Figure out what you love to do. Then just do it -- under a green umbrella. By focusing on the process, rather than the product, Peter Nicholson serves as ecopreneuring inspiration, founding the premiere non-profit organization serving sustainable education in Chicago, Foresight Design Initiative, based around his passion for design.

"For me, design is manipulating variables for a desired outcome, which in this case is improving our urban quality of life without sacrificing the needs of future generations," explains Peter. "The variables could be anything from words to graphics to economic influences. I'm fascinated with how we could use design to empower people, to improve human conditions holistically, and often dismayed by the abundant examples of how poor design hinders us." Today, Peter serves as Executive and Creative Director of Foresight Design Initiative, providing him a palette for sustainable design expression.

Peter's career roots back to a foundation in music, essaying initially to be a concert cellist. "When I realized I didn't have the talent for professional music, I parlayed my music background into arts administration," explains Peter. Blending music and entrepreneurship, his first venture included launching a classical orchestra in New York City. "I felt classical music was staid and stuck in the 19th century, losing a whole new potential audience. With this new group, we aimed to blow the lid off same old same old and designed fresh, hip graphics and style for every element."

Enticed by design, Peter enrolled in a design graduate program but left after a year, realizing he had garnered the tools he needed, and took his education into his own hands. A residency in Europe led him to the o2 Challenge in the Netherlands in 1998, a life-changing, dynamic, hands-on working conference on sustainable design that planted the seeds for Foresight Design Initiative. "I realized that sustainability would not evolve without a broader application of design and found, in the challenge of this pursuit, barriers that were both worthwhile and fulfilling to engage," explains Peter. "Sustainable design, however, was an emerging field; I knew I needed to create the conditions to practice this vocation."

In 2001 Peter started what eventually became Foresight Design Initiative, an organization that embraces design principles to develop more sustainable solutions, of many types, and to foster a greater inclusion of these issues into society. "Green should be the mass market norm, not the high-end alternative," Peter states. Strategic in organizational structure, Foresight Design Initiative is the non-profit subsidiary of a for-profit C corporation, Design for Society. While the same board of directors serves both organizations, the for-profit umbrella structure leaves open the opportunity to include strictly for-profit ventures in the future.

Such innovative thinking fuels Foresight Design Initiative's hybrid strategy. "We looked at other successful non-profit organizations and quickly realized a diversified stream of multiple income sources would keep this venture financially healthy," explains Peter. Today funding comes from events, corporate and individual memberships and donations (including in-kind), foundation support, "fee for service" for various green design consulting and education projects, and tuition for their seminars and Urban Sustainable Design Studio, an intensive experiential education program in sustainable design.

Innovative thinking, blended with responding to feedback and input, launched a menu of diverse Foresight Design Initiative programs. Serving as a portal of the growing Chicago green scene, the organization hosts Green Drinks, informal social and educational gatherings appealing to a broad range of urbanites interested in sustainability issues. Additional educational programs include workshops, panel discussions and tours addressing a wide breadth of local sustainability issues, including municipal recycling and affordable green homes. Foresight Design Initiative also handles various contract projects such as designing an educational pavilion for the City of Chicago for a large green festival that generates income for the organization. Foresight Design Initiative's latest venture, the Chicago Sustainable Business Alliance, serves as a network for enterprises dedicated to sustainability in their products, services and practices. "We constantly survey and listen to attendees at our events to either refine events or launch new ventures entirely," Peter adds.

Lean and green, Peter operates with an additional couple of full-time staff. "We aim to keep our overhead down by using just 350 square feet of office space, being frugal with the air conditioner and using a car-sharing service when public transportation won't suffice," explains Peter. "We look deceptively small given our handful of staff, but we rely greatly on an extensive, dedicated network of volunteers." Peter readily admits that this volunteer economy built Foresight Design Initiative into the organization it is today. "Our growing volunteer pool reflects the snowballing green movement as more folks want to get involved and connect with others that share the same values."

This diverse web of people related to Foresight Design Initiative remains Peter's ongoing motivation. "I want a life filled with meaningful, inspiring relationships," sums up Peter. "I love the people I work with, staff, volunteers and colleagues. Today I had two impromptu and amazing conversations with different people. That can't be measured in a paycheck. It's priceless."

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