Architecture and Design Versus Consumerism : How Design Activism Confronts Growth by Ann Thorpe in DOC, EPUB
9781849713566 English 1849713561 Our contemporary paradox is that we need consumer-driven economic growth and yet we can't afford it-not in environmental, economic or social terms. Many architects and designers are concerned about the problems of growth but face a paradox of their own as they have long been seen as engines for consumerism and growth; without growth, what purpose does design have? If people consume or build less, what will be left for designers to do? This book, informed by recent research into the viability of a "steady state" economy, addresses the paradox by proposing ways that architecture and design can act to transition us towards a new kind of economy that prioritizes real wellbeing rather than economic growth. Packed with examples and illustrations, it argues that taking action, or activism, is an important but hereto underexplored way for architects and designers to realign their role in the consumerism question. The first chapters explore how economic growth and consumerism shape and are shaped by the professions of architecture, product, and landscape design and how we can understand the problem of consumerism as four main challenges that designers are already addressing. The book maps out the main issues surrounding the development of metrics that designers and others can use to measure success, instead of simply measuring economic growth. The second half of the book looks at how design activism works and its connection to growth and consumerist issues. These chapters examine how activist practices are financed, highlight five specific methods that designers use in working for social change, and investigate the power of these methods. The book concludes with a consideration of what design's role might be in a "post-growth" society., Packed with examples and illustrations, this book describes how architecture and design can help us transition from a system that prioritizes consumerism and economic growth to a system that addresses real wellbeing. The first chapters explore how economic growth and consumerism shape and are shaped by the professions of architecture, product, and landscape design and how we can understand the problem of consumerism as four main challenges that designers are already addressing. The book investigates the sorts of metrics designers can use to measure success, instead of simply measuring economic growth. The second half of the book explores how design activism works and its connection to growth and consumerist issues. These chapters examine how activist practices are financed, highlight five specific methods that designers use in working for social change, and investigate the power of these methods. The book closes with a highly speculative chapter about what design's role might be in a "post-growth" society., The mentality that consumerism and economic growth are cure-alls is one of the biggest obstacles to real sustainability, but any change seems impossible, unthinkable. Our contemporary paradox finds us relying for our well being on consumer-driven economic growth that we actually can't afford - not in environmental, economic or social terms. Although architecture and design have long been seen as engines for consumerism and growth, increasing numbers of designers are concerned about the problems resulting from growth. But designers face a paradox of their own; in scenarios of sustainable consumption, where people consume or build significantly less, what will be left for designers to do? This book, informed by recent research into the viability of a steady state economy, sets an agenda for addressing the designer's paradox of sustainable consumption., There is mounting evidence that ever-increasing consumption in the developed world is leading us down a path to ecological collapse, and doing our society no favours. Design and architecture are often willing accomplices in consolidating the deep social and political problems of spiralling consumption. But how does sustainable consumption affect design, and what role can design play in bringing about change? Designing De-growth argues that, rather than being a threat to design, an absolute decline in material consumption offers up a huge range of creative opportunities for design and architecture, and a potent opportunity for transformed design practice. The book begins by explaining the global context of de-growth, and exploring the concept and its implications. The design of de-growth is then categorized in terms of sharing, shrinking and expanding, highlighting how different systems within society need to change and the implications for design. For each of these broad changes, the author examines a range of case studies, future proposals and speculations for the role of design. At the same time, the book explores emerging practices and trends that demonstrate how design practice must evolve. This groundbreaking text will re-set the agenda for design in the sustainable era, and will form a vital resource for all design and architecture teachers, students and practitioners.
9781849713566 English 1849713561 Our contemporary paradox is that we need consumer-driven economic growth and yet we can't afford it-not in environmental, economic or social terms. Many architects and designers are concerned about the problems of growth but face a paradox of their own as they have long been seen as engines for consumerism and growth; without growth, what purpose does design have? If people consume or build less, what will be left for designers to do? This book, informed by recent research into the viability of a "steady state" economy, addresses the paradox by proposing ways that architecture and design can act to transition us towards a new kind of economy that prioritizes real wellbeing rather than economic growth. Packed with examples and illustrations, it argues that taking action, or activism, is an important but hereto underexplored way for architects and designers to realign their role in the consumerism question. The first chapters explore how economic growth and consumerism shape and are shaped by the professions of architecture, product, and landscape design and how we can understand the problem of consumerism as four main challenges that designers are already addressing. The book maps out the main issues surrounding the development of metrics that designers and others can use to measure success, instead of simply measuring economic growth. The second half of the book looks at how design activism works and its connection to growth and consumerist issues. These chapters examine how activist practices are financed, highlight five specific methods that designers use in working for social change, and investigate the power of these methods. The book concludes with a consideration of what design's role might be in a "post-growth" society., Packed with examples and illustrations, this book describes how architecture and design can help us transition from a system that prioritizes consumerism and economic growth to a system that addresses real wellbeing. The first chapters explore how economic growth and consumerism shape and are shaped by the professions of architecture, product, and landscape design and how we can understand the problem of consumerism as four main challenges that designers are already addressing. The book investigates the sorts of metrics designers can use to measure success, instead of simply measuring economic growth. The second half of the book explores how design activism works and its connection to growth and consumerist issues. These chapters examine how activist practices are financed, highlight five specific methods that designers use in working for social change, and investigate the power of these methods. The book closes with a highly speculative chapter about what design's role might be in a "post-growth" society., The mentality that consumerism and economic growth are cure-alls is one of the biggest obstacles to real sustainability, but any change seems impossible, unthinkable. Our contemporary paradox finds us relying for our well being on consumer-driven economic growth that we actually can't afford - not in environmental, economic or social terms. Although architecture and design have long been seen as engines for consumerism and growth, increasing numbers of designers are concerned about the problems resulting from growth. But designers face a paradox of their own; in scenarios of sustainable consumption, where people consume or build significantly less, what will be left for designers to do? This book, informed by recent research into the viability of a steady state economy, sets an agenda for addressing the designer's paradox of sustainable consumption., There is mounting evidence that ever-increasing consumption in the developed world is leading us down a path to ecological collapse, and doing our society no favours. Design and architecture are often willing accomplices in consolidating the deep social and political problems of spiralling consumption. But how does sustainable consumption affect design, and what role can design play in bringing about change? Designing De-growth argues that, rather than being a threat to design, an absolute decline in material consumption offers up a huge range of creative opportunities for design and architecture, and a potent opportunity for transformed design practice. The book begins by explaining the global context of de-growth, and exploring the concept and its implications. The design of de-growth is then categorized in terms of sharing, shrinking and expanding, highlighting how different systems within society need to change and the implications for design. For each of these broad changes, the author examines a range of case studies, future proposals and speculations for the role of design. At the same time, the book explores emerging practices and trends that demonstrate how design practice must evolve. This groundbreaking text will re-set the agenda for design in the sustainable era, and will form a vital resource for all design and architecture teachers, students and practitioners.