Comments on: The Designer’s Field Guide to Sustainability, by LUNAR http://blog.ecolect.net/2008/08/the-designers-field-guide-to-sustainability-by-lunar/ Where design and sustainability cross paths. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:56:09 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: heidrun mumper-drumm http://blog.ecolect.net/2008/08/the-designers-field-guide-to-sustainability-by-lunar/comment-page-1/#comment-2731 heidrun mumper-drumm Mon, 23 Feb 2009 22:38:22 +0000 http://blog.ecolect.net/2008/08/the-designers-field-guide-to-sustainability-by-lunar/#comment-2731 Given the last post, I thought that maybe I had been too dismissive of the Field Guide, and reread it. However, I think I am correct in saying that the Guide doesn't go far enough. To quote Amory Lovins: "Incrementalism is now the high-risk strategy." For example, making things out of recycled, recyclable or biodegradable materials will only get us so far-especially if they are used in a system which does not provide for recycling or composting. Avoiding potentially hazardous materials like pthalates and bisphenol-A is a given. But what about the hundreds of other toxins in the materials we use? How do we account for and eliminate those? I wish the Guide would advocate for the use of lifecycle analysis in everything we design so that these compounds would have a greater chance of being accounted for, and then safeguarded against, or replaced with less- or non-toxic materials. Strategically designing packaging in parallel with product is great, but it's still a one-way stream [to the dump, or the recycler if you're lucky] if the manufacturer doesn't get it back. Maybe we can consider this Field Guide to be a gentle nudge to design, a push towards a design approach that considers environmental & economic sustainability. Designers who adopt this design thinking will then be encouraged to move more aggressively, beyond incrementalism, if possible. Given the last post, I thought that maybe I had been too dismissive of the Field Guide, and reread it. However, I think I am correct in saying that the Guide doesn’t go far enough. To quote Amory Lovins: “Incrementalism is now the high-risk strategy.”

For example, making things out of recycled, recyclable or biodegradable materials will only get us so far-especially if they are used in a system which does not provide for recycling or composting.

Avoiding potentially hazardous materials like pthalates and bisphenol-A is a given. But what about the hundreds of other toxins in the materials we use? How do we account for and eliminate those? I wish the Guide would advocate for the use of lifecycle analysis in everything we design so that these compounds would have a greater chance of being accounted for, and then safeguarded against, or replaced with less- or non-toxic materials.

Strategically designing packaging in parallel with product is great, but it’s still a one-way stream [to the dump, or the recycler if you're lucky] if the manufacturer doesn’t get it back.

Maybe we can consider this Field Guide to be a gentle nudge to design, a push towards a design approach that considers environmental & economic sustainability. Designers who adopt this design thinking will then be encouraged to move more aggressively, beyond incrementalism, if possible.

]]> By: designGT http://blog.ecolect.net/2008/08/the-designers-field-guide-to-sustainability-by-lunar/comment-page-1/#comment-2600 designGT Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:25:32 +0000 http://blog.ecolect.net/2008/08/the-designers-field-guide-to-sustainability-by-lunar/#comment-2600 As someone currently pursuing a master's thesis project in green design, I completely disagree with heidrun mumper-drumm's comment. This is a comprehensive, easy to use tool for designers who are unfamiliar with the basics of green design. Not only are these principals valuable for the environment, but through their application more efficient, innovative products can be generated. Maybe he didn't take the time to read the whole doc. As someone currently pursuing a master’s thesis project in green design, I completely disagree with heidrun mumper-drumm’s comment. This is a comprehensive, easy to use tool for designers who are unfamiliar with the basics of green design. Not only are these principals valuable for the environment, but through their application more efficient, innovative products can be generated. Maybe he didn’t take the time to read the whole doc.

]]> By: heidrun mumper-drumm http://blog.ecolect.net/2008/08/the-designers-field-guide-to-sustainability-by-lunar/comment-page-1/#comment-1911 heidrun mumper-drumm Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:36:13 +0000 http://blog.ecolect.net/2008/08/the-designers-field-guide-to-sustainability-by-lunar/#comment-1911 nice try....but this is so basic as to be virtually useless. what designers need to be doing is spending some time to understand the lifecycle of what they are designing. sustainable design is all about comprehensive design. little tweaks, like making stuff out of recycled materials, will not get us there. nice try….but this is so basic as to be virtually useless. what designers need to be doing is spending some time to understand the lifecycle of what they are designing. sustainable design is all about comprehensive design. little tweaks, like making stuff out of recycled materials, will not get us there.

]]> By: Jenn http://blog.ecolect.net/2008/08/the-designers-field-guide-to-sustainability-by-lunar/comment-page-1/#comment-1862 Jenn Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:08:23 +0000 http://blog.ecolect.net/2008/08/the-designers-field-guide-to-sustainability-by-lunar/#comment-1862 This is a great idea, love the knowledgeshare. This should be made available through the designers accord! Though it's pretty confusing and (dare I throw the first stone) ...ugly. Maybe they could just make the plain text available? Shame to see really useful information get over-designed like this! This is a great idea, love the knowledgeshare. This should be made available through the designers accord! Though it’s pretty confusing and (dare I throw the first stone) …ugly. Maybe they could just make the plain text available? Shame to see really useful information get over-designed like this!

]]> By: Joe Gebbia http://blog.ecolect.net/2008/08/the-designers-field-guide-to-sustainability-by-lunar/comment-page-1/#comment-1504 Joe Gebbia Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:49:13 +0000 http://blog.ecolect.net/2008/08/the-designers-field-guide-to-sustainability-by-lunar/#comment-1504 Thanks for posting Alberto! Thanks for posting Alberto!

]]> By: Sustainability advocate http://blog.ecolect.net/2008/08/the-designers-field-guide-to-sustainability-by-lunar/comment-page-1/#comment-1498 Sustainability advocate Sat, 23 Aug 2008 12:21:13 +0000 http://blog.ecolect.net/2008/08/the-designers-field-guide-to-sustainability-by-lunar/#comment-1498 Thank you for sharing this resource. It looks like an excellent idea, and any quick keys to help us become more sustainable in our products is a great tool. Thank you for sharing this resource. It looks like an excellent idea, and any quick keys to help us become more sustainable in our products is a great tool.

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