The document summarizes a thesis presentation on sustainable materialism. It explores how to design for reflection on materialistic behaviors through interaction design solutions. Through exploratory research, it studied how people relate to material possessions. Key themes that emerged were reflection on self versus materialism, memories versus object meaning, and accepted versus ideal ownership. A concept called "Perspective" was proposed - an experience service that provides activities to users based on purchase history to promote reflection on consumption habits. The contribution was understanding materialism through design and embedding these understandings in solutions to influence sustainable behaviors.

1. AARON MULLANE SUSTAINABLE MATERIALISM
Master’s Thesis Presentation
Saturday, 4 September 2010

2. SUSTAINABLE MATERIALISM
“You buy furniture. You tell yourself, this is the last sofa I
will ever need in my life. Buy the sofa, then for a couple
years you're satisfied that no matter what goes wrong, at
least you've got your sofa issue handled. Then the right
set of dishes. Then the perfect bed. The drapes. The rug.
Then you're trapped in your lovely nest, and the things
you used to own, now they own you.” ~ Chuck Palahniuk (American freelance
Journalist, Satirist and Novelist. b.1961)
materialism: noun a tendency to consider material possessions and
physical comfort as more important than spiritual values. (Definition
Oxford Dictionary)
Saturday, 4 September 2010

3. PROBLEM SUSTAINABLE MATERIALISM
MATERIALISM
CONSUMPTION
(DESIRE)
DESIRE OVER IMPRESSION STATUS-QUO
SOCIOLOGY NEEDS MANAGEMENT
MATERIALISM
PRODUCT SELF-
CONSUMER IDENTITY
WELL-BEING
SYMBOLISM
+
COLLABORATIVE INTERACTION SOCIAL
SERVICES DESIGN SUSTAINABILITY INNOVATION
SUSTAINABLE LOWER
= REFLECTION CONSUMPTION
MATERIALISM
Saturday, 4 September 2010

4. QUESTIONS SUSTAINABLE MATERIALISM
EXPLORATORY RESEARCH
UNDERSTANDING 1. How can we design for reflection on our
MATERIALISM
materialistic behaviours that are embedded in the
things that we own?
APPLYING 2. How can we embed these understandings in
UNDERSTANDING Interaction Design based solutions, that influence
(CONCEPTS)
and promote sustainable materialism?
Saturday, 4 September 2010

5. PARTICIPANTS SUSTAINABLE MATERIALISM
Post Doctoral BA Student/writer
Master Student, Design
Researcher and visual (sometimes mistaken for a Student supporter
Consultant
facilitator street magician)
Master student of Digital Design Engineer for
archeology Web Developer School secretary Mobile platforms
Saturday, 4 September 2010

6. EMPIRICAL SUSTAINABLE MATERIALISM
STAGE I
‘THINGS.’ PROBE
SEMI-STRUCTURED INTERVIEW
REFLECTION INTERVIEW
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7. STAGE 1 SUSTAINABLE MATERIALISM
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8. EMPIRICAL SUSTAINABLE MATERIALISM
STAGE I STAGE II
SHARE
IMPRESSIONS
‘THINGS.’ PROBE
AUDIT
SEMI-STRUCTURED INTERVIEW
SELF
SEMI-STRUCTURED INTERVIEW
REFLECTION INTERVIEW
OWNERSHIP SHARING
UNDERSTANDING MATERIALISM REFLECTION TECHNIQUES
Things used to achieve Enhance sharing by detaching
memories
Physical pleasure over digital
Internal identity fight Sharing and the anonymous
transaction
Multiple group association = survival
Sharing as an experience transaction
Sustainable identity is showing off
and expensive! Formed new perspective
"never been asked why i own these things!
you just accept it, you don't question it...." Prompted detachment creates
reflection
Saturday, 4 September 2010

9. THEMES SUSTAINABLE MATERIALISM
E
Reflection on self vs.
Materialism
SELF
B
Memories/Experience vs.
Object Meaning
OWNERSHIP SHARING
Accepted vs. Ideal
Showing-off
C Experience vs. Identity
“Don’t like” vs. Short Term
Gratification A
D
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10. CONCEPT WORKSHOP SUSTAINABLE MATERIALISM
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11. CONCEPTS SUSTAINABLE MATERIALISM
MATERIAL EXPERIENCE “PERSPECTIVE”
OBJECT AUGMENTED
REFLECTION SHARING
X
INDIVIDUAL E REFLECTION EXPERIENCES
REFLECTION SELF
SELF SELF
SHARING B REFLECTION
NETWORK B
COMPARISON
REFLECTION OWNERSHIP SHARING
OWNERSHIP SHARING NETWORK OWNERSHIP SHARING
C EXPERIENCE
IMPRESSIONS D A
D
Saturday, 4 September 2010

12. CONCEPTS SUSTAINABLE MATERIALISM
MATERIAL EXPERIENCE “PERSPECTIVE”
OBJECT AUGMENTED
REFLECTION SHARING
X
INDIVIDUAL E REFLECTION EXPERIENCES
REFLECTION SELF
SELF SELF
SHARING B REFLECTION
NETWORK B
COMPARISON
REFLECTION OWNERSHIP SHARING
OWNERSHIP SHARING NETWORK OWNERSHIP SHARING
C EXPERIENCE
IMPRESSIONS D A
D
Saturday, 4 September 2010

13. CONCEPTS SUSTAINABLE MATERIALISM
MATERIAL EXPERIENCE “PERSPECTIVE”
OBJECT AUGMENTED
REFLECTION SHARING
X E
INDIVIDUAL E REFLECTION EXPERIENCES
REFLECTION SELF
SELF SELF
SHARING B REFLECTION
NETWORK B
COMPARISON
REFLECTION OWNERSHIP SHARING
OWNERSHIP SHARING NETWORK OWNERSHIP SHARING
C EXPERIENCE
IMPRESSIONS D A
D
Saturday, 4 September 2010

14. CONCEPT SUSTAINABLE MATERIALISM
“PERSPECTIVE”
"what did I do that made me deserve this experience?".
A service that provides individuals with selected
“experiences”.Experiences are selected by the
service and pushed to the user on a regular
basis. The choice of experience is based on
their purchase history, ‘perspective’ account
balance, and generated profile of the user
throughout the use of the service. The
experience itself is focused on being low in
ecological footprint, while providing reflection
on the user’s purchasing habits.
E Experiences: helping, understanding others, forming
EXPERIENCES
new perspective, and activities
SELF
REFLECTION purchase + experience matching = reflection
B
NETWORK OWNERSHIP SHARING offline + online store/financial institution integration
A share with friend through network
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15. “PERSPECTIVE” SUSTAINABLE MATERIALISM
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16. CONTRIBUTION SUSTAINABLE MATERIALISM
UNDERSTANDING 1. How can we design for exploring materialism as a
MATERIALISM reflection on our materialistic designer from a non-
behaviours that are embedded performative artefact nature
in the things that we own?
exploratory methods and
study
exploring embedding aspects
of materialism into
sustainable solutions
APPLYING 2. How can we embed these study themes that promote
UNDERSTANDING understandings in Interaction reflection
(CONCEPTS) Design based solutions, that
influence and promote using service design for
reflection on materialism
sustainable materialism?
concepts
Saturday, 4 September 2010

17. CONCLUSION SUSTAINABLE MATERIALISM
LEARNINGS FUTURE WORK
Difficulties eliciting Bigger picture
“pure?” materialism consequences
“Playing with fire” - Further testing of
Impression reflection techniques
Management
Further concept
Time factor refinement
Moments of Further exploration:
complexity cultural?
Saturday, 4 September 2010

18. THANK YOU
EVERYONE!
Saturday, 4 September 2010