Matthew B
- Research Program Mentor
PhD candidate at Dalhousie University
Expertise
Graphic design, data science, sustainability, participatory design, information design, sound design, film making, photography, creative writing, user experience design
Bio
University Professor · Premiere Capstone Advisor · Capstone Expert · Indigo Research Mentor Matthew is an interdisciplinary educator and mentor whose passion is helping students craft creative responses rooted in care to today's biggest ecological, social, economic, and educational challenges. As a Premiere Capstone Advisor, Capstone Expert, and Indigo Research Mentor, he has mentored 125+ students across capstones, research papers, and ventures, with students going on to secure admissions at top universities such as UChicago, UPenn, USC, and Parsons. Drawing on a background in regenerative design, systems thinking, storytelling, and entrepreneurship, he guides students toward capstone projects rooted in place that deepen care and reciprocity. His students' projects stand out to admissions committees for the way they weave personal passion with meaningful contribution to place, people, and the living world. With 10+ years of university teaching experience, Matthew is a part-time professor at Dalhousie University, Rhode Island School of Design, and Northeastern University, where he teaches in management, sustainability, storytelling, and design. His mentoring approach is playful, affirmative, and relational — using systems thinking and arts-based inquiry to help students connect big ideas to action in ways that respond to the local conditions and potentials with in their own communities. Matthew holds an MFA in Graphic Design from the Rhode Island School of Design and an MSc in Data Science from Brown University. He is pursing his PhD in regenerative education and entrepreneurship. A selection of Crimson student projects he has supported: BUSINESS & VENTURES: - A registered charity upcycling used sports gear with New Zealand’s largest sports retailer, partnering with 6 organizations to support schools and 1,500+ children, redistributing $6,000+ in equipment. - An app helping teens sleep better and limit screen use through playful competitions with friends - A multi-day tennis tournament in Mexico raising funds and awareness for a local orphanage - An upcycled vintage online thrift store in Brazil, paired with community workshops on repair and reuse - A women's rights charity run in Tokyo combining sport and advocacy for political activism and gender equity - A charity supporting animal welfare through arts-based events in Cyprus - A fundraiser for golf gear and clubs for women and marginalized communities in New Jersey - A multi-month photography class and co-created gallery fundraiser supporting autistic youth ARTS & MEDIA: - A podcast on sports and medicine spanning multiple seasons including cricket and golf, featuring 10+ expert interviews with doctors and medical experts - A finance and sports blog in Brazil with 1,250 newsletter subscribers and multiple strategic business partners - A photo journalism platform sharing the stories of local businesses in San Diego - A food video blog in Miami interviewing local food shops on immigrant culture and recipes - A political activism YouTube channel featuring 7+ in-depth political interviews and reaching 170,000+ views - A short documentary film in Hong Kong exploring neurodiversity and creativity SOCIAL IMPACT & ADVOCACY: - A food rescue initiative delivering meals in California, partnering with local government and other platforms, and managing a volunteer network - A concert fundraiser in Thailand raising money for traditional musical instrument repair and music literacy - Insight Celiac, a nonprofit educating and raising awareness about celiac disease through workshops, events, and data visualizations - A non-profit initiative in Singapore focused on the reuse and repair of technology for underserved communities - A biodiversity advocacy initiative using jewelry and creative practice to mobilize awareness and action - A diving initiative in Hong Kong using underwater video and sound recording to raise awareness of marine biodiversity EDUCATION & PROGRAMS: - An AI literacy podcast and toolkit supporting education for youth in South Africa - A youth regenerative finance and ethical investing initiative in Lithuania - An initiative in India teaching children about Indigenous arts and craft traditions, paired with photo journalism documenting the process and wisdom of elder artists - A workshop series in Texas on the sustainable built environment, developing policy recommendations for local decision-makers Matthew has participated in global networks including Transformations Community, ETH Zurich's Designing Resilient Regenerative Systems group, and TBA21–Academy's Ocean/UNI. He is co-founder of Unfolding Aliveness, a studio and educational platform exploring storytelling and multispecies justice through sound, place, and field recording. At the heart of Matthew's work is a commitment to planetary health, justice, and sustainability. His projects explore how we might cultivate deeper connections with each other and with nature, and design systems that support reciprocity and collective wellbeing. He is especially drawn to sound and artistic practices that help us listen more closely to the places we live — revealing the often-overlooked relationships that shape our shared future. Matthew's creative practice extends beyond teaching. As a musician, he has earned over 1,000,000 plays across Apple Music, Spotify, and SoundCloud, and his design and data work has been featured in Harper's Bazaar, London Fashion Week, Apple Music Editorial Playlists, and WWD. Matthew is comfortable with complexity and thrives on challenges. He is quick on his feet and takes pride in helping support students where they are in their life and academic journey. Together with students and families, he crafts projects that stand out, projects that express each student's passions and make a real, meaningful contribution to the people, places, and communities around them. TOP EXPERTISE: Mentoring students across Arts & Media, Business & Ventures, Social Impact & Advocacy, and Education & Programs to develop regenerative, place-based, and impactful projects. Recognized for integrating systems thinking, arts-based inquiry, multispecies approaches, storytelling, and entrepreneurial thinking to help students connect personal passions to meaningful contributions to their communities and the living world. Highly experienced in guiding capstones that bridge regeneration, design, entrepreneurship, and the arts.Project ideas
Sustainability and Impact — Food Sovereignty Initiative
Explore how food justice, climate resilience, and community empowerment intersect by designing a neighborhood-scale food sovereignty project in partnership with a local farm, garden, or mutual aid network. Students will investigate the root causes of food insecurity and research urban agriculture models, while building core skills in community storytelling, participatory design, and environmental systems thinking. Over the 10 sessions, students will create a small-scale but high-impact prototype—such as a multilingual public awareness campaign, a seed-saving guide rooted in cultural traditions, or a youth-centered harvest event concept—that can be tested or shared locally. Students will also explore one aspect of ecological repair, such as composting, biochar, or fungi-based soil health strategies, tailored to urban environments. With guided support, they’ll gather information through interviews, site visits (virtual or local), and mapping tools, and use that research to develop a clear project outcome with measurable goals. The project encourages place-based learning and practical creativity—designed to be achievable, inspiring, and grounded in real community needs. Potential Outcomes: Seed-saving zine or guide, poster series, soil restoration toolkit, event pitch deck, food justice map, short video story, impact proposal for local grants.
Business — Rethinking Retail: A Circular Supply Chain Model for Zero-Waste Groceries
Explore how circular economy principles can transform the grocery sector by designing a research-based model for a zero-waste food and household goods store. This project will examine how packaging, logistics, and sourcing can shift from linear to circular systems, with a focus on refillable containers, bulk purchasing, and regionally rooted supply chains. Students will conduct case study analysis of existing zero-waste models (e.g. Loop, Precycle, or local cooperatives), assess life cycle impacts of common packaging methods, and explore partnerships with regenerative farms and producers. Through interviews, secondary research, and basic modeling tools, students will map out a prototype supply chain for a hypothetical store or product line, with attention to environmental, economic, and social metrics. The final paper will include both a literature review and an original systems diagram or strategy proposal, offering actionable insights for circular grocery innovation in a specific community or bioregion. Potential Outcomes: Research paper with systems map, circular supply chain strategy brief.
Arts & Media — Voices of the Living Earth
Create a multi-format storytelling project that explores the changing soundscapes and visual rhythms of biodiversity—making space for the voices of species, habitats, and ecosystems in flux. Rather than focusing solely on extinction or loss, this project invites students to engage in storytelling with nature—as a creative partner and living presence. What does biodiversity feel, sound, and look like when we slow down, pay attention, and co-create across species and mediums? Students may explore one or more expressive forms—such as archival recordings, local interviews, photography, data visualization, or ecological art—to craft a creative work rooted in place and relationship. With flexible outputs and guided support, they’ll conduct original research (field-based or digital), experiment with media that resonates with them, and build a final project that fosters ecological memory, reciprocity, and connection. Potential Outcomes: Photo essay, poetry, podcast episode, short film, interactive sound map, ecological zine, infographic series, soundwalk, data-driven art piece, or multimedia exhibition proposal.
Education – Regenerative Water Literacy for Youth
In this project, students will design an educational initiative that teaches youth how to understand, care for, and regenerate local water systems. Drawing from topics like rainwater harvesting, greywater reuse, watershed health, and climate resilience, students will learn how to translate systems thinking into engaging and age-appropriate activities. They'll explore how water flows through both natural and built environments and how everyday choices impact water quality and access. Students will gather information through environmental research, interviews with educators or water experts, and analysis of existing curriculum models. They’ll learn how to create lesson plans, workshop activities, and facilitator resources that are grounded in local context and adaptable across communities. The final product will be a shareable educational resource designed to spark water literacy and ecological awareness in schools, community centers, or youth programs. Potential Outcomes: Research paper, curriculum guide, educator toolkit, interactive lesson plan series, watershed mapping activity set, digital resource hub, school partnership proposal, eco-education zine.
