Louise St. Pierre

Dr. Louise St. Pierre is a Professor at Emily Carr University of Art + Design, holding dual affiliations with the Ian Gillespie Faculty of Design + Dynamic Media and the Jake Kerr Faculty of Graduate Studies. Her work focuses on sustainable and ecological design, integrating animist and Buddhist principles to reframe human relationships with nature. She co-founded Canada’s first DESIS Lab (Design for Social Innovation and Sustainability) and pioneered the Minor in Ecological Design. Her research emphasizes deep ecology, ethical design practices, and contemplative methodologies.

Educated at Simon Fraser University (PhD 2021), she previously chaired the Industrial Design Program at the University of Washington. Awards include the SFU Dean of Graduate Studies Convocation Medal (2021) and a YWCA Women of Distinction Nomination (2024). She teaches courses like Ecological Practices in Design and Graduate Design Studio II, emphasizing hands-on engagement with ecosystems and indigenous partnerships. Her writing explores design’s role in fostering ecological literacy and systemic change.