August Rust is a sustainability researcher working toward healthier, more accessible designed futures through a material health, disability justice, and circular systems lens. Their work is shaped by both lived experience with disability and ongoing research into how building materials affect human health across diverse bodies and communities.

While studying sustainability, design, and material science at The New School, they joined the Parsons Healthy Materials Lab as a researcher, developing resources including the HML Textile Guides and material collections. They now manage the Donghia Healthier Materials Library and continue as a material health researcher for HML.

August runs Future Materialist, a material research studio working with designers, manufacturers, and educational partners to implement sustainable material practices across the built environment. They teach workshops at Parsons School of Design, Utah State University, Business of Home, and the Level Up Project. Catch their upcoming workshop dates at @future_materialist.