Instagram story viewer> @scottboylston> Tagged

Scott Boylston

@scottboylston

763

followers

624

following

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

We are delighted to welcome Scott Boylston to the Ekya Vana community as our first Pathway Advisor, guiding the People and Planet Pathway! 🌱

At the heart of this pathway is a simple yet powerful idea: ‘everything is connected.’ From living systems and ecological interdependence to the choices we make every day, we explore how people, nature and the systems around us shape one another.

Scott’s work brings this thinking to life. As a Professor and Graduate Coordinator of the Design for Sustainability programme at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), he has spent years exploring how systems thinking, design strategy and behaviour change can help create more sustainable futures.

As the founder of Re:Purpose Savannah and the author of four books, including Designing with Society, Scott has also explored how design can move beyond creating objects to facilitating meaningful change within communities and living systems. His work with material reuse, social innovation and design reflects the very questions we hope to nurture in our learners: ‘How are we connected? What can we learn from nature? How do our actions affect larger systems? And how can we create a better way forward?’

Through the People and Planet Pathway, we hope to nurture learners who can see these connections - learning from nature through biomimicry, interdependence; practising purposeful action, embracing eco-leadership, and imagining pathways for conservation, regeneration and sustainable living.

We look forward to Scott bringing his experience, curiosity and perspective into our learning community, helping us shape rich, real-world learning experiences for our young minds.

Welcome to Ekya Vana, Scott. We are excited to learn, question and imagine alongside you. ✨

17

0

249 - April 25 - Chatham Sailing Club Hook Race - 2026 edition. It was smooth sailing off the line at the opening to the Calibogue Sound, at least until the wind dropped out from underneath us. There was over an hour where we crept forward and at times went backwards. We did get to see a few giant sea turtles. Darn amazing creatures but not something you want to gawk at during a race but with no wind, we spent plenty of time looking for something to occupy our sailing minds. The wind finally came up from the South East and steady a steady 13 knots the rest of the way around the course. 28.5 nautical miles - 7:24:00. It wasn’t our best race day but it was the best day on the water.

9

2

244 - March 22 - Day 2 - Geechee Sailing Club’s 47th Annual St Patrick’s Day Regatta. A pursuit race - the start staggered by the PHRF (handicap) rating. With a patch work of puffy wind (3 knots to 9 knots off and on) and depending upon where you were when the wind hit you could pass the boats or get passed by boats and it was all about knowing the tides and trim. We finished middle of the pack but we weren’t too disappointed. Why? Because we’d rather be sailing.

7

0

243 - March 21 - Day One - Geechee Sailing Clubs 47th Annual St Patrick’s Day Regatta - a beautiful day for sailing. With 21 boats racing, the river was filled with full sails. A great crew, a great start and clean sailing brought us across the finish line in high standings. 2nd in the first race and 3rd in the second race which gave us an overall 2nd place with adjusted time. Hoisting a rum to that.

Note: one of our crew just missed out on the Spirit Award by dressing to the kilt while the other nomination, another boat got hung up on a sandbar, and that became the crowd favorite. Shame on them for looking the other way from a man in a kilt on a boat playing guitar and singing a sea shanties.

6

0

At Ebenezer Creek, WiSE had the pleasure of hosting the Biomimicry Class of SCAD Designers for Sustainability, led by Professor Scott Boylston and Cathy Sakas, SCAD's Biologist-at-the-Design-Table and WiSE Board of Directors President.

🌱Biomimicry is defined as "solutions inspired by nature." The Biomimicry Institute explains, "For challenges in all fields and industries, the living world has countless models from which humans can learn. Putting our species into better harmony with the rest of nature, these solutions show us the way to meet our needs and create new possibilities.
By emulating these time-tested forms, processes, and ecosystems, humans practicing biomimicry can unleash a regenerative future where humans help to create conditions conducive to all life."
*
*
*
#biomimicryinstitute #scaddotedu #scad #scadsavannah #inspirationfromnature #sustainablesolutions #savannahga

15

3

232 - December 30 - When your motor isn’t working quite right - you still go sailing. Good winds and great seas. The chilly air dipped into the south which makes for the winds to be good and with a little layering - a comfortable sail with friends. Had an issue with a leaking fuel filter but got that adjusted, the leak came to a stop.

As we prepped our return into slip we had intensions of sailing in under sail. Unfortunately we were dead into the wind and our attempt was thwarted. We powered up the little bit of motor we had and eased it into slip.

Later, as we hung out on the boat, one of the other sailers in the marina mentioned how we were a little squirrelly coming in - we knew it might not have looked perfect but at least we tried.

Another sailer came down and mentioned how our slip is a tough one to get into and that it was one for the “pros”.

This reinforced how we still need to be humble and honor the seas - no matter how easy it feels at times, to bring it in or even sailing her, there is so much that these enormous forces can toss at you and we need to respect every bit of that. It was a great day on the water.

6

1

months of thrifting, reclaiming, collaborating, co-designing, dreaming big, and doing everything for the whalesharks, the community of Donsol, and greater marine conservation. All I feel is gratitude and awe! 🤍🌊🦈

Who’s ready for the next one? DM me 💌

#BetweenWavesNYC #ClimateWeekNYC #climateweek #marineconservation #marine #whaleshark #ocean #art #artistsofinstagram

52

4

What started as a passion project (and my MFA thesis at @scaddotedu ) has since grown into something I never imagined. Even when I felt a little disconnected while being far away, small moments rekindled the spark: joining @terra_dot_do ‘s Learning for Action Climate Fellowship, hearing Nina’s kind words, guesting on a podcast with my favorite marine biologist @ellehernndz on my newly discovered and currently favorite @broadabroadpodcast (teaser🙂‍↔️), and winning global design awards (@idesignawards @indigoawards ).

Now, we’re here, am having my first ever art show showcasing @buhaydonsol : working with over 30 artists, organizations, and small business owners—all united by a shared goal of protecting our oceans, marine life, and our climate future. 🌊💙

Feeling nothing but grateful and excited for what’s ahead. So grateful to everyone who has helped me inch closer to my dreams. 🦈

#BetweenWavesNYC #SCAD #SCADSust #scadedu #marineconservation #whaleshark #marine #education #art #artist #artshow #newyork #ocean #Filipina #philippines

122

15

Grateful and honored ✨ Buhay Donsol has received multiple awards at the 2025 Indigo Design Award—including Gold in Poster and Brochure Design for Social Change and Silver in Education for Social Change! 🏅

This project, rooted in sustainable whale shark ecotourism in Donsol, Philippines, is a reflection of the power of community, storytelling, and design for impact. Thank you to my professors at Savannah College of Art and Design (especially Professors Scott Boylston, Cathy J. Sakas, and Satyakam Sharma) and everyone who supported this journey of translating complex systems into meaningful, human-centered experiences.

Explore the project here: https://sharklao.myportfolio.com/buhay-donsol

View more on my portfolio: https://sharklao.myportfolio.com/

Let’s keep designing for people, planet, and purpose. 🌍💙

#BuhayDonsol #whalesharkecotourism #whaleshark #designforsustainability

49

10

Still here. Still obsessed with water…
I’m honored to share that one of my first collaborative projects as an MFA candidate in the Design for Sustainability program at @scaddotedu has won Gold at the 2024 International Design Awards @idesignawards💡

Introducing RUWA: a wearable, water harvesting shelter inspired by the dessert’s rosette succulent. We designed RUWA’s three-layer system to capture up to 3 liters of moisture from its surroundings as a potential answer to the increasing number of humans around the world who struggle to access potable water each and every day. In the case of climate refugees in particular, it is predicted that by 2050, 1.2 billion people around the world could be displaced due to weather related disasters.

I am humbled and blessed for the experience to learn and create alongside such incredible innovators. Especially around a topic that hits so close to home 🇬🇭 #stopgalamseynow

A massive thank you to everyone who made this possible:

DESIGN TEAM:
Mona Hamdy | @monamhamdy
Sabina Pareja
Kiley Flanagan

ADVISORS:
Karim Faramawy | @adzedesigns
Mohammed Badie | @badie.architects
Marwa Dabaieh
Cameron Sinclair | @cameronasinclair
Greg Wangerin

DESIGN FOR SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM DIRECTORS:
Scott Boylston | @scottboylston
Satyakam Sharma

For the full length concept video 👉🏿#linkinbio

112

19

We’re making waves! 🌊 Buhay Donsol has been honored with a Gold Award at the International Design Awards! 🏆✨

A heartfelt thank you to my department @scadsust , my thesis committee @scottboylston , @cathyjsakas , and @_saty_sharma , and everyone who guided me throughout this journey. 🎓🙏

🦈 For those interested in the project’s details and my contributions, feel free to explore my portfolio: https://sharklao.myportfolio.com/buhay-donsol
🦈 And if you’re curious about the research that underpinned this work, here’s the full paper: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/382850803_Empowering_Local_Stakeholders_for_Sustainable_Ecotourism_A_Case_Study_on_Donsol_Philippines’_Whale_Shark_Program
🦈 OR explore the links in my bio

Grateful for this milestone and excited for the path ahead! 🌍💡

#BuhayDonsol #InternationalDesignAwards #SCAD #Sustainability #DesignForGood #whaleshark #marineconservation #FilipinoPride #Filipina

3

10

I’m thrilled to share that the pocket park is moving toward construction! 🚧✨

I shared this on LinkedIn, but I wanted to write a more personal note here. When we had our final presentation in Atlanta, my family was in the Philippines with my grandfather in his final days. Even though the semester had officially ended, I felt a deep responsibility to see this project through to its final deliverable—not just for my team but because I truly believed in what we were building.

It was a challenging time, balancing my heart being in this project and knowing those were my last days to spend with my Lolo. I’ve often wondered if I made the right choice. But now, seeing this park move closer to becoming a reality feels so meaningful. It’s a testament to hope, collaboration, and honoring the legacies of those who came before us.

If you knew my Lolo, you’d know he’d tell me I was exactly where I was meant to be—and that he’d be so proud.

Click the link in my bio to learn more about my role and/ or to contribute to the development of this pocket park!

🌳 Reflections Park
💃 Project Manager | Designer
🏫 @scadsust @scaddotedu @scad_serve
📍 219 Auburn Ave NE Atlanta, GA

#PocketPark #CommunityDesign #SweetAuburn #MLKDay #GoodTrouble #DesignForGood

3

0