Abstract

ABSTRACT

In today’s contemporary western society, we are heading down a path of over consumption and unsustainable design practices. We are starting to do irreparable damage to our planet and if these types of practices are not changed, we are looking at a fundamental collapse of our culture as we know it.

Designers need to look at the things they create through a critical approach as well as being aware of the lifecycles of their projects. Making objects without embedding the product life cycle is no longer good enough as designers must now acknowledge that they are part of the problem of environmental damage.

By focusing on four large scale design projects, this thesis represents a reflection of four different approaches broadly based on sustainable design methodologies: physical, cultural, local, and emotional. A project based approach was taken to explore these areas where objects were conceived, constructed and evaluated based on their sustainable merits.
The overall understanding gained from these projects was that design needs to be Experienced. Design is a practice which operates across multiple disciplines and cultures and the potential good and bad that designers can bring to bear is staggering, and it is very important that design is practiced in a meaningful way.

This thesis also addresses the need for Sustainable design to be introduced very early on within design education. Designers can gain knowledge through practice and through this practical approach, gain insight into how their work can affect others.