GREEN design
language
How does a product look and feel like
when it is designed with the consideration
toward sustainability and our impacts on
the environment?
In this series of two presentations, the
meaning of GREEN is investigated through
the lens of design trends and its physical
manifestations in today’s products.
GREEN design language by Wakako Takagi

6 DESIGN TRENDS
part 1:
1. PURE
2. EXPOSED
3. AWARE
part 2:
4. MINIMIZE
5. FLAT
6. L(U)ST/L(A)ST

MINIMIZE: Less is More
Fan by Jason Pi
Eliminates an outer cage by
designing soft blade that are safe to
touch while it is in use.
Why it matters:
Eliminating, combining and streamlining parts can
significantly reduce environmental impacts throughout the
lifecycle of the products.
Design Principles:
✻ Think the “needs” of users and reconsider how a
products can address those needs by using more
sustainable materials, innovative fabrication process, etc.
✻ Reconsider the purpose of each part and ask yourself if
some of them can be combined or eliminated in order to
reduce materials and weight to make the distribution
process more efficient.
✻ When all the fuss is eliminated, a product can present a
singular and more memorable statement as an object ,

MINIMIZE: Streamline
Why it matters:
Sometimes what makes products more “unsustainable” are the user behaviors. By
streamlining what’s considered to be a “normal” usage process, products can
propose more sustainable value proposition for both users and the brand.
Design Principles:
✻ Map out the common user process and brainstorm around combining or
eliminating steps while keeping the integrity of the product.
Printer by Christine Purcell
✻ Investigate if certain usage behaviors are rituals versus routines. The goal is to The biggest environmental impact of home
printer is the paper. The printer along with the
celebrate rituals while re-evaluating excessive routines. software experience makes “act of printing”
more eco friendly.

FLAT: Origami Why it matters:
The Japanese origami inspired construction
create rigidity and volume without using filler
materials.
Design Principles:
✻ Deconstruct the form into 2D origami
patterns.
✻ Think of “folding” as a way of creating three-
dimensional volume.
Project title: unknown
Folded lamp shade creates
a sculptural shape

FLAT: Made in 2D
Why it matters:
Having a product made two-dimensionally and packaged as a
flat-pack can result with several sustainable benefits such as
maximum material usage, efficient distribution process and
minimum shelf space required in the retail space.
Design Principles:
✻ Consider how the pattern can be laid out on the materials.
Aim for the least possible footprint/waste and the most effective
path to trim the materials.
✻ Be thoughtful of a user experience. Make it easy for users to
assemble/disassemble various parts.
Stretch bag designed by artecnica
The minimal 2-D design stretches into
3-D to form the biggest bag with the
smallest amount of waste.

L(U)ST/L(A)ST: Appropriate
Why it matters:
Not everything needs to be built as if they are going to stay with us forever. Some products/parts come with
expected life span and materials used for those products/parts should respond to the expectation.
Design Principles:
✻ Investigate how long each part/function of the product is used and make an appropriate material choice.
✻ Make it obvious. If the material is meant to only last for a specific duration, it should look and feel that way.
Recompute designed by Brenden Macaluso
PC made of cardboard makes it easy to replace
components and recycle parts.

L(U)ST/L(A)ST:
Repairable
Why it matters:
In recent years more people are fixing their stuff
instead of throwing them away only to purchase
new ones, making the repair business flourish.
Design should respond to the desire creating
products that are fixable and repairable.
Design Principles:
✻ Make it visually accessible to disassemble for
easy repair.
✻ Mechanically fastened parts instead of using
adhesives (which make it difficult to disassemble
the parts).
Pick up Wood designed by Alain Berteau
Hanger with a simple. metal hook that can be
screwed into the found wood.

L(U)ST/L(A)ST:
Emotionally
Durable Why it matters:
It’s no longer good enough for products to
be physically durable. They need to be
designed so that they create emotional
connection with the users.
Design Principles:
✻ Think of the romance between users and
the object.
✻ Use materials that speak unique stories.
✻ Design it in such a way so that people
KillSpencer can create their own story using the
A collection of bags that is
made of “used in combat” product.
military truck tarps with combat
wear and tear.