Design and sustainability (1)

1. MirazizBazarov 2011
Report
The aim of this report is to analyze and describe the advantages of linking design and
sustainability, the ways and methods of their linkage.
Sustainability, defined as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their needs” is nowadays becoming more and more important issue
for society, demanding the coordination of environmental, social and economic demands, or so
called the “three pillars”, or triple bottom-line of sustainability, as United Nations General
Assembly (2005) notes.
Therefore, there should be a growing connection between the design and sustainability, with the
main intention of eliminating “negative environmental impact completely through skilful, sensitive
design” (McLennan, 2004). Thus, the implementation of sustainable design requires the
elimination or decrease of using non-renewable resources, minimising the impact to the
environment, and relating people with the natural environment, he adds. According to UNEP
DTIE (2007), the main areas where Design for Sustainability approach can be applied are
architecture and landscape architecture, urban design and planning, engineering, graphic,
industrial, and fashion design. To add, the link between design and sustainability can be
established in other areas, including manufacturing, agriculture, energy and water and other
sectors, since because of the increasing pressure from the government and society, in addition
to the increasing public awareness of sustainability and the benefits that can be brought by
implementation of sustainable design, as Bhamra and Lofthouse (2007) say.
So, the advantages of linking design and sustainability can be environmental benefits for local
community, as well as the reduced negative impact on the natural resource consumption, and
thus improved public perception and quality of life (UNEP DTIE, 2007). But sustainable design
is not only about the positive impact on the local environment and local community, UNEP says,
it also increased the economic benefit through the enhanced performance and productivity,
increased health and safety benefits to the consumers, thus enhancing the public image and
increasing the loyalty and satisfaction of the customers (Bhamra and Lofthouse, 2007).
Increased employees comfort, health and safety also improve their effectiveness. So, it can be
seen that linking design and sustainability can bring advantages and benefits in wide array of
fields, thus improving all the aspects of triple bottom-line and new quadruple bottom-line
(Korchnak 2009)
Kim (1998) suggest that there are mainly three principles that can be used for sustainable
design, which are economy of resources (reduction, reuse, and recycling), life cycle design,
which is concerning the impact on the environment and human design, which is aimed at
interactions between human and the natural world. To add, UNEP DTIE (2007) also mentions
such principles as using low-impact, meaning non-toxic and sustainably produced materials,

2. MirazizBazarov 2011
increased quality and durability and proper design for reused or recycling, in addition to the
implementation of the principles of Sustainable Design Standards and Design Impact Measures.
Thus, Bhamra and Lofthouse note (2007) shift in the minds of business people, as well as the
society, from short-sighted and outdated view of sustainable as something considered as an
expense to being an opportunity for increasing revenues and profits, drastically lowering costs,
in addition to further enhancing of innovation and business growth.
Therefore, the report has proven that there is a strong link between the sustainability and design
nowadays, and implementation of sustainable design will lead to advantages and benefits not
only for the customer and society, but also for the companies and their economic success.
Bibliography
Bhamra T, and Lofthouse V, 2007. Design for Sustainability (Design for Social Responsibility),
Ashgate, UK
Kim J-J, 1998. Introduction to Sustainable Design, viewed 5 November 2011, <
http://www.umich.edu/~nppcpub/resources/compendia/ARCHpdfs/ARCHdesIntro.pdf >
Korchnak P, 2009. Expanding the People bottom line: The faces of social sustainability, viewed
5 November 2011, < http://www.semiosiscommunications.com/expanding-people-bottom-line >
McLennan, J F, 2004. The Philosophy of Sustainable Design, Ecotone Publishing Company
LLC
United Nations General Assembly, 2005. World Summit Outcome Resolution A/60/1, adopted
by the General Assembly on 15 September 2005, viewed 5 November 2011, <
http://data.unaids.org/Topics/UniversalAccess/worldsummitoutcome_resolution_24oct2005_en.
pdf >
UNEP DTIE, Design For Sustainability. A Practical Approach For Developing Economies,
viewed 5 November 2011, < http://www.d4s-de.org/manual/d4stotalmanual.pdf >