One serious problem for designers is that, even with a systems approach, there are few tools in existence that wrap these issues together. Instead, designers must learn to match together a series of disparate approaches, understandings, and frameworks in order to build a complete solution.
– NATHAN SHEDROFF, Design Is the Problem: The Future of Design Must be Sustainable, 2009
In developing the Living Principles for Design, our goal was to distill the collective wisdom found in decades of sustainability theories and make it accessible to a broad audience of design practitioners and their clients.
To uncover a meaningful opportunity, we started by looking at the landscape of the major sustainability visions, manifestos, principles, frameworks and tools that have been developed over the past 50 years and that are relevant to design. We think of this research document as the genealogy of the Living Principles. It is also a chronology and a primer of sorts – an invitation for further discovery.
Upon close investigation, we noticed some trends:
- Many of the principles and frameworks focus squarely and solely on environmental sustainability.
- Several are based on a systems approach, but this does not necessarily add relevance for designers beyond the environmental and social realms.
- Some of the tools and frameworks that appear very useful are not widely used or adopted.
- There are countless resources for material choices, production techniques, energy, waste and even on the social impact of design. However, few address design's impact on culture and the role culture plays in sustainability.
So while a lot of good and useful information already exists, it is fragmented. It is also missing a compelling case for looking at design's impact on trends and habits. We believe that for sustainable design to be attainable, designers need a common understanding of the interdependence of all four streams of sustainability – environmental protection, social equity, economic health and cultural vitality.
The Living Principles for Design stand on the shoulders of giants. The DNA of their work will become evident as you peruse this genealogy.
Gaby Brink
Nathalie Destandau
Phil Hamlett