The Dominant Stances on Ecodesign: A Critique

摘要: Introduction Environmental issues are not new to the design professions. William Morris was among first consider environmental as well social implications of his work. Buckminster Fuller in 1930s and Victor Papanek until recently, have carried baton explored numerous ecodesign concepts found today. Although designers, Fritz Schumacher seminal work Small Is Beautiful' Ivan Illitch Tools for Conviviality,2 helped shape many social, structural, economic arguments that can facilitate healthy, equitable, autonomous living. Yet, while designers long drawn inspiration from critiques on industrial economy; policy making; alternative technology movements; systems thinking city planning, other subjects; it is only recently there has been evidence a reciprocal action: growing interest these quarters design. For example, explicit reference now be significance achieving environmental, economic, goals at national, regional, international levels.3 In ways, this acknowledgment role creating more sustainable forms living working reflection broadening concerns increasingly accepted influencing designers. Such extension space evidenced through shift environment contained within "factory gates," such energy efficiency recycling, whole product lifecycle and, functional innovation integration service delivery. It above context, an expanding complex professions, paper written. While already recognized scale impact depends population size, what does, uses,4 consideration consumption, human choices, actions overshadowed by emphasis pollution resource use during production main object concern. Greater anthropogenics cultural, processes change seems overdue. This paper, therefore, examines dominant approaches environ1 E. F. Schumacher, Beautiful (London: Abacus Books, 1973). 2 Illich, Conviviality(London: Calder Boyars, 3 See, example: UK Foresight Programme Sustainable Technologies fora Cleaner World(London: Office Science Technology, 1998), which sets out some key areas integrate thinking, development, government action. 4 commonly referred IPAT identity, (I=PxAxT where I impact, P population, A equates measure affluence, T characteristic technology) discussed Paul Ehrlich Ann Ehrlich, The Population Explosion Hutchinson, 1990), 58.