OUGD601 - Extended Essay - Linking Information / Notes - Reassessment of Consumption

Reassessment of consumption

Role of design reassess

Problem

Ethics have been challenged over the effect that design and the market have on the environment (red)

Messages that are sent out by industry and design are contrary to benefiting / helping the environment, which has repercussions for us (red)

Reassess

Need to know the negative impact the current design process is having (light blue)

Design as a whole needs to consider the effects it can have, as well as societal problems (red)

Many professional design bodies have long taken the view that designers have a responsibility not just to their clients and their staff but to society as a whole (red dot)

Design as a field will need to rethink its role – designers will need to rethink their occupation and be open to learning new things and changing their practices to be more sustainable (brown)

Design help change / Solution?

The designer is increasingly used to make green design attractive to a wider market (green)

Deign is needed to make consumption more sustainable (neon orange)

Having understanding about human need will allow designers to create solutions to consumption (pink)

Technology and design have a role to play in creating and encouraging new systems and products (yellow)

Design is part of the problem and the solution (neon orange)

‘industry, technology and design are a necessary part of the answer to current environmental problems’ – multiple areas are needed to solve the environmental problem (red dot)

Technology and understanding need to be used for sustainability to work now and in the future (brown)

Marketing can help through:understanding of consumer needs and behaviours to encourage sustainable consumption, normalise sustainable products through brands and make sustainable products appealing (yellow)

Difficulties getting people on board

Difficult to persuade enough people for it to have a widescale effect for the environment (purple)

To create sustainability a majority of people need to be more sustainable (yellow)

Consumer Awareness / Public Opinion / Support for environment / Wants / Emotions

Awareness of issue

Society has begun to realise the consequences of their actions on the environment (brown)

Consumers are aware of the impact of their consumption on the environment (neon pink)

Consumers have more understanding of the effects of their purchasing (pink)

There is more awareness from consumers about product impact on the environment (black or dark blue)

The consumer is now more aware of sustainability issues, so now questions consumerism (neon orange)

Environmental concern – peak

It is frowned upon to say you do not care about the environment (neon yellow)

Concern for the environment is widespread (neon pink)

Environmental concern is at its peak now (neon pink)

Societal concern for implications of materialism and consumption on environment (neon pink)

64% of people believe protecting the environment should be top priority despite the effects on economic growth (neon pink)

Making change in market

Changing markets and consumer awareness are forcing sustainable change in the market (neon orange)

Made market / producers change to meet new demand (black or dark blue)

Making change in habits

Consumption / habits are changing to consider the environment more (pink)

Public opinion favours less consumption (yellow)

System change

Consumers do not see that large scale change is needed for environmental sustainability (red)

The era of conspicuous consumption is over (green type)

Spending is being replaced by cautiousness and questioning attitude (green type)

Churn and fast consumerism being replaced by considered, conscientious consumerism (green type)

Views on industry

People do not think legislation is strong enough to deal with the problems and encourage a stronger line (neon pink)

Consumers do not think it benefits industry to be more environmentally friendly because the current economic structure pushes for growth and profit (neon pink)

People feel politics and profit can hinder environmental action, however they realise change is being made (neon pink)

Business sees benefits of sustainable initiatives

Sustainability is not always the main priority for retailers when compared with safety, aesthetics and value (green)

Will be more understanding from industry about the benefits and change sustainability can now bring (yellow)

Perception

Environmental practices can improve a companies perception (neon pink)

Environmental marketing can increase company perception and meet legislation (neon pink)

Demand from consumer

Retailers have focused on sustainability in response to environmentally conscious consumers (green)

Companies and marketers are highlighting environmental practices and qualities to stay competitive and meet demand from consumer who will pay more (neon pink)

Companies will use sustainable design as a way of meeting consumer demand and staying competitive over rivals (black)

Competitive / success

For companies to be successful in the future they will rely on the portrayal of products and services that are environmentally friendly (pink)

Managing environmental impact within business will increase performance / success (black)

Lose competitivity over other if do not consider the environment (black)

It can have negative impacts for a company if green credentials are not shown as this can reduce market shares (neon pink)

A majority of business are aware of sustainable design and understand that they need to be more sustainable if they want to claim part of the market (brown)

Companies that continue their current industrial methods will be less competitive when regulations come in (dark green)

Making money immorally is shortsighted because people will see through this, whilst moral money making will lead to success later on (green type)

Profit

Companies see the link between environmental concern, increased efficiency and increased profit (neon pink)

Within the industry there is a realisation that there is profit within sustainability (green)

Sustainability effectively allows financial growth (pink)

Sustainability is a prosperous area of the market (neon orange)

Companies realise both environmental concerns and profit can work together to meet legislation (pink)

Gradual process of becoming a green company, saving money can be an incentive (green type)

Ethics add value

Ethics raises value (green type)

Forced to consider environment – outside sources

Companies are changing products in the realisation that both environmental, economic and legislative concerns can be met through green products (neon pink)

Environmental policies have been fuelled in part by legislation rather than just a change in opinion (green)

Regulation forces companies into environmental considerations rather than encouraging it (dark green)

Manufacturers have been forced by government and consumers to reduce environmental impact whist still marketing their products effectively (dark green)

A combination of legislation and a market that is ethically aware has created more need from companies to think about the environment (neon orange)

Business aims to follow legislation rather than make larger changes to thinking (yellow)

Taxing makes it financially unfeasible to have ungreen products (red)

Without these

Without legislation or perceived market edge, retailers would not consider the environment – a combination of perceived market edge and legislation has led to retailers considering the environment more (green)