ref-Design Can Change: answers for designers

Downloadable booklet found here:


Why should designers be concerned with sustainability?
Scott Ewen from Emigre once said, "Designers make the world’s most beautiful trash", and it’s true. Paper accounts for 81 million tons of solid waste annually, which constitutes 40% of North America’s total. In the United States alone, designers purchase or specify $9.1 billion in printing and paper annually. When you create that much demand for such resource-intensive products and services you have an opportunity and responsibility to make a difference. Our action, or inaction, will have consequences.



Why should I care?
The risk global warming presents is huge and its impacts can be devastating. As the main contributors to this crisis, we all have a major responsibility.


"Designers actually have more potential to slow environmental degradation than economists, politicians and environmentalist. Their power is catalytic." Alastair Faud-Luke
Source: The Eco-Design Handbook


If that’s not motivation enough, we should also note that most major brands have added sustainability to their business agendas. They recognize it as a competitive advantage and as a key to continued success. From a position of self-interest alone, you really have to start thinking green.


"A common complaint at many a design conference is that designers are not taken seriously in the business world. Designers want to sit at the adult table. Yet despite the fact that sustainability is fast becoming a top-level business priority, and that it represents a progressive issue for which many designers should be sympathetic—design community awareness currently trails existing business initiatives (and related disciplines such as architecture and industrial design). When looking for examples of "design with a capital D," sustainability holds tremendous potential. Designers like to characterize themselves as problem-solvers. If this is true, then they should have little difficulty inserting themselves in the midst of this crucial emerging business dynamic." Phil Hamlett
Source: Communication Arts, Sustainability and Graphic Design

.

ref - the total beauty of sustainable products

55% of senior executives know design is the most important mechanism for their companies to tackle sustainability. p9


"the world we have is the product of our way of thinking." albert einstein


"man is the only species capable of generating waste - things tht no other life on earth wants to have."
Gunter Pauli, Industrial Ecologist

"a good design goes beyond appearences."
Axel Thallemer, Head of Corporate Design, Festo AG&Co.

"waste is lost profit."30-31

ref - the nature of design

back to the principles with
new materials
forest management
reinventing the human presence on earth
p.3-5

man is everywhere a disturbing agent. Wherever he plants his foot, the harmonies of nature are turned to discord. George Perkins Marsh
p13

design failure=miscalibration of [human intentions + ecological results] p14

"the larger design challenge is to transform a wasteful society into one that meets human needs with elegant simplicity. Designing ecologically requires a revolution in our thinking that changes the kinds (... until the end of questions -next page) p27-28

.

THESIS_intro-my role in society

the green imperative
victor papanek

"consumers are more aware of the process than the product" p 174


role in society
p17

CHAPTER: DESIGNING FOR A SAFER FUTURE
hoice of material / manufacturing processes
p29

why 3rd worl recycle
p30


environment issues in life cycle assessment INTERESTING
TIL

read p181+182 again
"convenience is the enemy of excellence, fashion is the enemy of integrity and cuteness is the enemy of beauty"


"think with your whole body" deshimaru
p 75


"the easiest way to save resources and enerny and to cut down on waste is to use less."183




10 questions before buying + 3 (environmental)
p186-197