Annie Leonard ‘The Story of Stuff’
The realisation of a product design linear system from extraction to disposal, consuming over 1/3 of our global resources, is frightening.
As individuals this system not only makes us question its practicality to strive and maintain a sustainable future, but more so, it questions us as consumers in the way we interact with products and our consumer behaviours.
This video challenges the worldview of international industrial designers. With 99% of products being trashed within 6 months of purchase, and a US daily garbage toll of 4.5 L.B.S, indicates product design today needs to move away from built in and perceived obsolescence. Instead designers need to design sustainable, ecological and durable products, to decrease eco-footprints. In this way, designers can break down consumer habits of perceived obsolescence, and design aesthetical and functional sustainable products.
On average over 100,000 hazardous synthetic chemicals are used in product design. It is evident from this statistic, collaboration between design and manufacturing industries is lacking. Research into sustainable user- friendly materials and production techniques, has the potential to significantly decrease harm to the consumer and the environment. Furthermore, the development of a cycle product design system, whereby products are designed, produced and then recycled to create new products is also ideal.
In this way, as I designer I hope to continually research new ecological materials and find a balance between aesthetical/functional design and sustainable design, to achieve good design.
Leonard’s video notes that the rate of US national happiness has decreased since 1970 due to beginnings of consumer culture. Therefore, this suggests that as consumers we are growingly entering into a world of idealism, where we see products as a way to escape from reality or showcase our personalities or desires. As designers, we need to think strategically and tap into how consumers view and interact with products, to produce good design. In saying this, I will research consumer behaviourism, in order to design wholesome products to protect the environment and suit the needs of the consumer.
The realisation of a product design linear system from extraction to disposal, consuming over 1/3 of our global resources, is frightening.
As individuals this system not only makes us question its practicality to strive and maintain a sustainable future, but more so, it questions us as consumers in the way we interact with products and our consumer behaviours.
This video challenges the worldview of international industrial designers. With 99% of products being trashed within 6 months of purchase, and a US daily garbage toll of 4.5 L.B.S, indicates product design today needs to move away from built in and perceived obsolescence. Instead designers need to design sustainable, ecological and durable products, to decrease eco-footprints. In this way, designers can break down consumer habits of perceived obsolescence, and design aesthetical and functional sustainable products.
On average over 100,000 hazardous synthetic chemicals are used in product design. It is evident from this statistic, collaboration between design and manufacturing industries is lacking. Research into sustainable user- friendly materials and production techniques, has the potential to significantly decrease harm to the consumer and the environment. Furthermore, the development of a cycle product design system, whereby products are designed, produced and then recycled to create new products is also ideal.
In this way, as I designer I hope to continually research new ecological materials and find a balance between aesthetical/functional design and sustainable design, to achieve good design.
Leonard’s video notes that the rate of US national happiness has decreased since 1970 due to beginnings of consumer culture. Therefore, this suggests that as consumers we are growingly entering into a world of idealism, where we see products as a way to escape from reality or showcase our personalities or desires. As designers, we need to think strategically and tap into how consumers view and interact with products, to produce good design. In saying this, I will research consumer behaviourism, in order to design wholesome products to protect the environment and suit the needs of the consumer.
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