sustainable design

Talk from Scott Taylor from Designmash. 05/11/2007



Can products be redesigned, so that they are more sustainable and environmentally friendly?



Sustainability = people, planet and profit.



Today much more emphasis is being placed on more ecological designs and people are looking back to nature on helping solve these problems. Organic is becoming more popular amongst the population. Being 'Green' is one of the ways forward to help the people and the planet. This image is becoming very popular, but companies sometimes hide behind this image and want to be seen to be green, usually through their advertising. But when investigated further are actually polluters of the environment.



Some simple things can be improved to help reduce the risks of Global Warming. Small things that are never considered could help change a lot. Such as saving on 'food miles' and growing our own produce such as tomatoes instead of importing them from various countries. This incurs damage to the planet through the fumes off the transport, but also uses up valuable fossil fuels in doing so.



Designers need to consider carefully materials when designing products, such as can it be re-used and recycled. They need to be aware of some key things when designing, which will not only help the environment but also their profits and overall company image. key points in sustainable design:-



Cyclic

Can it be recycled? Some examples of companies using this idea:-

Puma - created 500 shoes from old clothes provided by the general public, which is a nice idea to think that shoes are made out of your old clothes and also makes them personal.

McDonalds - all packaging can be recycled and are bio-degradable.

Eco Log, a Japanese company where suits are made entirely of nylon, so when recycled can be produced straight back in to nylon again.



Solar

Using energy from nature. i particularly like the design produced by Habitat of a grass chair. It is made using cardboard template, which is built around with soil and grass, then the cardboard degrades and the chair shape remains.



Safe

products and by products friendly and safe to the environment.

One company in Sweden allows the waste products of a paper factory to be so safe that the water it goes in to is suitable for swimming.

Canon make their lens in cameras lead free.



Super Efficient

Giving things more than one use or use less materials in the design.

Water bottles in Mexico are made so that they can all be attached together when finished with and made into new designs. This i think is a really good idea and some of the designs that can be produced are quite funky and can be used for various new purposes.



Social

Are productions being made ethically? Some companies have degrading policies for the workers and many problems occur such as child labour. All of these are unknown to the seller.

Fair trade is a company which "Guarantees a better ideal for third world producers.



I never realised that there was so many things to be aware of and consider when creating modern designs, or the smallest things that can be improved if the general public is made more aware. The designer not only has to design the products, but also design them sustainably.