The document discusses various perspectives on design innovation and sustainability. It questions current consumerist paradigms and desires more sustainable approaches. Some key ideas discussed include: challenging current consumer needs and desires; teaching children to grow their own food to change perspectives on consumption; moving away from an economically development model based on environmental degradation in Mexico; raising awareness of over-consumption and its impacts; considering cultural dimensions in sustainable design; and combining social causes with aesthetics in design.

1. Ideas about Design Innovation
M00869 Technological Innovation
“The current paradigm, in which industrial designers answer without
challenging the desires and needs of consumers, must change its direction.
Co-challenging is a strategy to get users involved in design and counteract
the fact that they are influenced by the status quo.”
“What if we taught our children at school how to grow
vegetables? What if our children change the meaning they
give to fruits? What if we gave them ownership and a strong
desire to contribute and so something significant instead of
buying things?”
“Mexico should not continue towards an economic development based on
environmental degradation”
“Eco-cities: the physical space can be changed, but what about the mindset
established in society which keeps telling us to buy more and always look
for the next best thing?”
“Nobody wants to sell less or change their usual
routine. We need to raise awareness and
“If we are all different, then why should we all want
trigger a change in the massive consumption
to have the same things? Are we losing the
'urge' that people have. We need to understand
meaning of being humans and becoming more
that we don't need more objects to achieve well-
superficial? Every time that we buy a new thing,
being.”
we are already thinking on the next one.”
“As a design student, I have learned to generate innovative ideas, but having
them adopted by people requires knowing how to sell them. I have too much left to
learn about business in design and how to create a profit.”
“In the future, before I buy, install, use or dispose of any device, I'm going to look for the
full information; sometimes it would be greener to buy or use a common alternative
instead of the apparently “greener” products.”
“This is a very important insight for myself: we make
culture everyday... every new design is part of something that
already exists, but is also part of the unique background
of the designer.”
“Designers have the power to influence societies
through what they design.”
”Online social networking harms people socially. People are not discussing
matters of importance.”
“Sustainable design needs to consider “Tourists often visit places only for a few days, so they
the cultural dimension.” don't see their influence in a long term way and aren't aware
of the consequences that they cause.”
“Today we cannot afford to think of design completely in social causes
or pure aesthetics; the ideal is to combine them into an equilibrium.”
Dr. Ricardo Sosa <rdsosam@itesm.mx> Industrial Design – Tecnologico de Monterrey, Queretaro MEXICO