The Designer's Atlas of Sustainability


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What’s not missing from this picture?

Posted on December 13, 2013 by Ann Thorpe • 1 Comment

I read recenlty that the city of Detroit is exploring the option of “killing off” interstate 375 in favor of a pedestrian corridor that would better link neighborhoods,  boost the local economies and strengthen neighborhoods. Milwaukee, San Francisco and Portland have already ripped out sections of the freeways to good effect.

Stroget in Copenhagen

Cars removed from this picture: pedestrian street in Copenhagen (via Bike Denton)

So in this week’s post I simply want to ask, what can we take away to improve sustainability? This question has already been answered with examples where designers have removed  packaging or weight from products. Many cities have removed cars from their city centers. With climate concerns, many designers are aiming  remove carbon, for zero carbon designs.

Whether you are researching or teaching sustainble design, alongside considering multifunctionality, it’s also useful to  consider how what you leave out can enhance ecological or social performance.
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In this week’s post over on Design, Consumption and Activism, we remember Nelson Mandela by way of a few interesting design activism projects from South Africa. Also pass the word. If you find these posts useful mention them to a colleague and sign up to get a monthly summary with bonus article using the sign-up form in the right margin.

If you have some sustaianble designers on your Christmas list, give the gift of a book…how about The Designer’s Atlas of Sustainability or Architecture & Design versus Consumerism!

Filed Under: basic principles, regional examples, transportation

One Response to What’s not missing from this picture?

  1. art says:
    January 2, 2014 at 3:24 am

    If you have someone that you want to help because you feel like they are lacking in the fashion department then here is your number one resources. This article can help you figure out how to assist someone else you know on figuring out how to improve on their fashion sense.

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