Reflecting on my ESG understanding: Why I’m Learning, and What It Means for My Design Work
Reflecting on My ESG UNDERSTANDING: Why I’m Learning, and What It Means for My Design Work
Over the past few months, I’ve been immersing myself in Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) — not as a buzzword, but as a strategic, values-aligned framework for how companies operate, grow and create long-term impact.
In a way, this isn’t entirely new to me.
I studied LEED back in 2011, when sustainable design was still finding its footing.
Revisiting this now feels like reconnecting with an early foundation — but through a far more strategic and evolved lens.
Here’s what I’ve been exploring, and why it feels so relevant to my world of design + hospitality + multi-residential development:
Learning with purpose
One of the first distinctions I revisited was how ESG differs from CSR.
CSR is about “doing good.”
ESG is about integrating environmental and social factors into business value, risk, governance and long-term strategy.
It’s embedded, accountable and measurable.
Connecting ESG to design
Environmental:
I’ve been exploring how energy use, emissions, water, waste, circularity and material sourcing give us powerful levers to design more responsibly — not theoretically, but in very practical, decision-making ways.
Social:
Health & safety, equity, workforce wellbeing, community engagement — these sit at the heart of hospitality and residential design.
This is where design directly shapes lived experience.
Governance:
I’ve been thinking more intentionally about how decisions are made in development projects — who is accountable, what transparency looks like, how risk is managed, and how reporting aligns with design outcomes.
Why this is strategic — not just “nice”
For investors: ESG is increasingly shaping which developments get backed.
For residents and guests: there is growing demand for purpose-led, sustainable, emotionally intelligent places to stay and live.
For designers like me:
ESG gives a language + data framework that strengthens the “why” behind creative choices — with real impact attached.
Real benefits — and real trade-offs
A strong ESG approach can reduce costs (energy, resources), mitigate risk (climate, supply chain, reputational), and open new markets and partnerships.
But it’s not instant or effortless.
Meaningful ESG integration requires time, expertise and investment — and naming that honestly is part of avoiding the greenwash trap.
Staying authentic + avoiding greenwash
The biggest learning for me has been the role of transparency.
ESG storytelling only works when it’s backed by real data, real constraints and real ambition.
It isn’t about calling something “green.”
It’s about being clear on where we are, what we’re measuring, and what it will take to progress.
How this changes my role
By upskilling in ESG, I’m now better positioned to:
guide design decisions that balance aesthetics with measurable impact
collaborate with investors who value sustainability + long-term design thinking
embed ESG into project strategy from the start — not as a layer added at the end
Why I’m sharing this
Because ESG isn’t a corporate side topic anymore.
It’s becoming central to how we design and build in hospitality, residential living and mixed-use developments.
And for me, it feels like a meaningful bridge — connecting my design instincts (warmth, tactility, wellbeing) with measurable, future-focused impact.
If you’re working in design, real estate, hospitality or development (or simply curious about sustainability), I’d love to know:
What ESG topics are you exploring or wanting to learn more about?
Let’s start a conversation.
#ESG #SustainableDesign #HospitalityDesign #MultiResidential #DesignStrategy #Impact #Sustainability