Design + Research + Strategy
As a multidisciplinary designer, Dara Benno dedicates her practice to advancing sustainable systems in evolutionary lifestyle dynamics as a response to environmental and social challenges. Dara’s design practice is rooted in her dedication to approaching challenges with a critical mind and holistic perspective to develop impactful strategies. She applies her drive for systems change and passion for hands-on making, consulting with brands on the creation of regenerative models that benefit the environment, the business and society through a shift toward the circular economy.
Dara has a Master of Industrial Design from RISD and a background in sculpture and linguistics. She has partnered with The Level Up Project in NYC to work with high school students on a series of collaborative “Reuse” workshops and has exhibited her work investigating climate adaptation, everyday living and community resilience at international design events including Dutch Design Week and FASHIONCLASH Festival.
As a Strategic Design Research Fellow at RISD's Center for Complexity, Dara is collaborating on the development of a design manual for the Anthropocene. She pulls from and expands on her extensive research in climate risk and collaborative response, joining an effort utilizing art and design to envision the roles, norms and values necessary for humanity to flourish.
CONTACT: dara.benno@gmail.com
Awards + Recognition
Leadership
2023 Circularity Champion Nominee, Barnard College · Columbia University
2022 Marc Harrison Design Excellence Award, Rhode Island School of Design
2022 Semi-Finalist Student Merit Awards, Industrial Designers Society of America
2020 - 2022 Leopold Schepp Scholar
2020 - 2022 Fred M. Roddy Memorial Scholarship, Rhode Island School of Design
2020 - 2021 Industrial Design Health Grant, Rhode Island School of Design
2020 - 2022 Graduate Merit Fellowship Award, Rhode Island School of Design
2008 Magna Cum Laude Bachelor of Fine Arts, Binghamton University (SUNY)
2008 Undergraduate Research Award, Binghamton University (SUNY)
2008 University Art Museum Sculpture Award, Binghamton University (SUNY)
Exhibitions
2022 Dutch Design Week, Eindhoven, Netherlands
2022 FASHIONCLASH Festival, Maastricht, Netherlands
2022 MID Graduate Showcase, Rhode Island School of Design
2021 Industrial Design Gallery, Rhode Island School of Design
2022 Speaker at Industrial Design Lecture Series, Rhode Island School of Design
2020 - 2022 Graduate Community Representative, Rhode Island School of Design
2020 - 2022 Industrial Designers Society of America Board Member, Rhode Island School of Design
2020 - 2022 Graduate Admissions Team, Rhode Island School of Design
2021 Humanitarian Design Teaching Assistant, MIT-D Lab/Rhode Island School of Design
Community
2022 - Present Female Design Council, NYC
2022 - Present Women and Climate
2020 - Present Industrial Designers Society of America
2017 - Present NYC Fair Trade Coalition
2017 - 2018 Brooklyn Fashion + Design Accelerator
2010 - 2011 Chicago Public School Art Teacher
2009 - 2011 Milk Factory Gallery Founder + Curator, Chicago