Design Leader | Speaker | Founder
I’m a design leader accelerating sustainability transitions — merging systems thinking, creativity, and collaboration to shift mindsets, organizations, and futures.
Award-Winning Leadership in Sustainable Transformation
Zeynep Falay von Flittner is recognized for her holistic approach to advancing sustainable development goals and for being at the forefront of systemic change and received the Ornamo Award 2024.
According to the jury, Falay von Flittner is an inspiring role model and an empowering force within the design community. She has established herself as a leader in transformational design, achieving significant results in both environmental protection and social well-being.
Inspiring speaker for systems change
Zeynep Falay von Flittner is a sought-after speaker who empowers audiences to embrace complexity, lead with purpose, and design for systemic change. With a unique ability to connect sustainability, creativity, and leadership, her talks inspire action – from boardrooms to classrooms.
Whether addressing global design summits or organizational retreats, Zeynep challenges assumptions and leaves her audiences with new perspectives, practical tools, and a renewed sense of agency in shaping just and regenerative futures.
Founder of Falay Transition Design Collective
Falay Transition Design is a mission-driven collective of transition designers, systems thinkers, sustainability experts and researchers that helps courageous organizations navigate complex transitions—towards just, sustainable futures.
Activities
Strategic Advisory on Sustainability Transitions
Keynote speeches
Teaching
Volunteer work and community building
Example projects
-
![]()
Transition Design Workshop for Hitachi Europe R&D Dlab
Designed and organised a novel workshop series to co-develop transition pathways to decarbonise UK homes with a wide variety of stakeholders.
-
![]()
Co-creation of an inspiring vision for water-smart future bathrooms
Together with a diverse representation of VitrA’s team, we created a multi-level cohesive and holistic vision to guide and inspire VitrA’s future approach to sustainability innovation.
-
![]()
Business Finland- Sustainability Playbook for Commerce SME's
Supporting the Business Finland Commerce team to build a sustainability playbook to increase the maturity of Finnish SME’s
In press
-
![]()
Zeynep Falay von Flittner muotoilee työkseen kestäviä tulevaisuuksia
Suunnittelija, yrittäjä ja konsultti Zeynep Falay von Flittner palkittiin vuoden suunnannäyttäjänä työstään yritysten ja organisaatioiden kestävyysmurroksen muotoilijana. Muotoilun keinoin ymmärretään systeemisiä, viheliäisiä ongelmia ja rakennetaan polkuja kohti toiveikasta tulevaisuutta.
-
![Photo by Emma Simpson (via Design Forum Finland website)]()
Time to be bold for sustainability transitions (and why you need design for that)
My blog post for Design Forum Finland Website
As we face a grand challenge to transform unsustainable business models, the design discipline is an invaluable and underutilized asset to re-imagine and re-invent new regenerative business models.
-
![Kuva: Vesa Tyni]()
Ornamo Magazine Article -in Finnish
Hyvinvointi on osa työn tekemisen kulttuuria
Designkonsultti Zeynep Falay von Flittner arvelee, että säännölliset työmatkat toimistolle ja takaisin eivät enää palaa asiantuntijatyötä tekevien ihmisten rutiineihin. Von Flittner itse tekee töitä työhuoneessaan, jonka käytöstä hän neuvottelee aviomiehensä, muotoilija Nicolas von Flittner kanssa. Toinen vetäytyy keittiöön silloin, kun työhuone on varattu.
-
![]()
Business Finland launched Sustainability Sustainability Playbook for Digital Commerce SMES
Business Finland’s Experience Commerce program has published an industry-specific sustainability playbook for digital commerce SMEs. The aim is to help companies improve their knowledge of the different levels of sustainability and integrate them into the development of their strategy and competitiveness.
-
![]()
Panel Discussion: New AD Museum and Open Design Professions
How the New Museum of Architecture & Design in Helsinki could best serve the community of professional designers and architects? The question was presented to the panelists Liza Chong, Joseph Grima, and Zeynep Falay von Flittner. The conversation was moderated by David van der Leer.
-
![PHOTO: TIINA SOMERPURO]()
Kauppalehti Optio Magazine Interview - In Finnish
Somejätit mullistivat politiikan, parisuhteen ja lastenkasvatuksen vahingossa – mistä yritys voi tietää, aloittaako se seuraavan vallankumouksen, palvelumuotoilija pohtii
-
![]()
Good News from Finland
My career: From start to Finnish
-
![]()
Touchpoint Magazine Vol.12 No.3- Service Design with Planet in Mind
Envisioning Desirable Futures. Service design and sustainability transformation of organisations
-
![]()
Designing a Regenerative Future
Blog post about Neol’s Creative Spark Event, where I spoke with Todd Holcomb. We gathered for our fourth Creative Sparks event to discuss stagnating belief systems, the possibilities of regenerative design, and our need for holistic solutions inspired by the nature surrounding us.
-
![The International Alvar Aalto Design Seminar is celebrating its 10th edition in 2025]()
Zeynep is keynote speaker at the International Alvar Aalto Design Seminar
The International Alvar Aalto Design Seminar is celebrating its 10th edition in 2025 – Three main seminar themes – Authenticity, Cohabitation and Evolution. We discussed about the themes with designer, entrepreneur Zeynep Falay von Flittner.
PARTNERS & COLLABORATORS
INTERESTED?