Research notes – Sustainability as a virus

A more elaborate perspective on Sustainability

In the December 2007 issue of the David Report, David Carlson his editorial team discusses the interpretations of sustainability and extends the notion of what is sustainable, to a mix of components that are necessary to achieve real sustainability. The ideas were elaborated at the Designboost conference of 2007, in Malmo, Sweden.

They propose and open-minded and dynamic definition, summarised in seven themes, the spokes of a wheel of sustainability.

Environmental influence

“to have an aspiration to affect the environment as little as possible”
Designers need to look at the whole picture, not merely selected parts of being eco friendly or organic.

Innovation

“to develop unique attributes on several levels”
Designers should focus on creating new functions that improve our lives, and to be inclusive rather than exclusive.

Emotional connection

“to be part of the user”
Designers should focus on tactile and sensorial engagement of users. “What makes us want to keep certain objects while we throw away others without thinking?”

Aesthetics

“to age with grace”
Designers should “look into the basics of technological maturity and let such experience contribute to the creation of longer-lasting products.”

Quality

“to own multi-quality capacities”
Real sustainable design is timeless, artifacts that people cherish and keep for a long period of time.

Authenticity

“to be able to tell a credible story”
“Will future consumers see a Swedish designed but Chinese produced Orrefors glass vase as Swedish? Don’t you think that some of the authenticity gets lost in the Chinese mass-production? Maybe some of the substance and history as well?” Products are storytelling and designers must focus on conveying and authentic story with objects.

Compatibility

“to be part of a bigger coherence”
Artifacts such as Lego or Bang & Olufsen carry a compatibility over time, respecting the old while encouraging new innovation. Designers should create common platforms that build sustainable co-ordination advantages.

Source: David Report Issue 8/2007

Sustainability is a central theme in future design. For the past few years, we have taken the step to recognise its importance. However, for various reasons, sustainability has been trivialised to products that embody elements of sustainability, but that does not secure us a sustainable future.

In essence, what the David report proposes is a theme that reoccurs in other sources analysing our approach to a sustainable future (ex. Thrope – the designer’s atlas of sustainability). Ultimately, all designers, not specialists in sustainability, must reconsider how we design for the future. Design must embody a multitude of elements, to be truly sustainable and those elements must put focus on what brings us genuine human well-being.

Selection of concept designs