week 10
In this week’s blog, I want to discuss the content of my environmental manifesto. Firstly, my environmental manifesto consists of three principles: 1) Good design should be sustainable, 2) Good design should follow natural laws, and 3) Good design should strive to break free from consumerism.
- Good design should be sustainable.
- Firstly, considering the finite nature of global resources, if we haphazardly use natural resources, it could lead to more waste. In “Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things” by McDonough and Braungart, the concepts of technological metabolism and biological metabolism are introduced. In natural ecosystems, there is a cycle that follows natural laws, where every organism plays a crucial role. The example of traditional leather shoes is cited, highlighting the difficulty for such items to enter the cycles of technological and biological metabolism due to their complex composition of biological and technological materials. Designs like traditional leather shoes contribute to resource waste, and our goal is to reduce such waste. An example from the same book illustrates a carpet company that recycles used carpets, melting them down to produce new products, effectively reducing waste and contributing to sustainability.
- Good design should follow natural laws.
- In “Ecological Design” by Sim Van Der Ryn and Stuart Cowan, the collaboration between geographer Josh Collins and a mosquito control district is discussed. Human activities disrupted a swamp after the construction of a road, creating stagnant water breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Traditional drainage methods might exacerbate the mosquito issue. However, by designing drainage ditches based on the topography and tidal hydrology of the swamp, matching the geometric shapes and tidal flow characteristics, the swamp’s original conditions were partially restored. This demonstrates that design, when aligned with natural laws and considering the overall environmental context, is more effective and contributes to environmental conservation.
- Good design should strive to break free from consumerism.
- In today’s society, consumerism remains prevalent, influencing many designs that serve consumerist purposes. Designers often face challenges when their designs are not adopted. However, turning a blind eye to the waste caused by consumerism can harm our environment and the planet. Therefore, in design, we should strive to break free from consumerism or promote environmentally friendly designs. Taking action is much better than standing still in addressing environmental concerns.
Reference
McDonough, W. and Braungart, M., 2010. Cradle to cradle: Remaking the way we make things. North point press.
Van der Ryn, S. and Cowan, S., 2013. Ecological design. Island press.
