Its has been forever since I last did a blog post. In fact it is safe to say, blog 1.0 never really got off the ground. But since I am currently collaborating with some colleagues on some topics related to the original focus of this blog, I figured I might as well cross pollinate some of my writings. So…I am back…and off to the races.
Since last posting, I have been emersed in a number of sustainability/design thinking contexts. So let’s start off there…
Surprisingly few people have directed this topic directly. I am not sure why. It seems like the two go hand in hand. Grant Young of Zumio has taken a good stab at it (go Grant!). He hits on a huge point that I have been meaning to write about for a while. Sustainability is NOT about technology…ultimately it is about behavior change on an individual and societal level. Design Thinking is rooted in creating a solution that is rooted in a fundamental understanding of human behavior and how a solution maps with human behaviors and needs. To me it has always seemed that there is a huge match here. A potential for a game changing homerun! As Young points out “observational research methods can uncover unconscious behaviours, habits routines, attitudes and beliefs – such factors that have been identified in supporting or influencing unsustainable actions” (page 18). From that point, DT can be used to design product/systems/policies that alter those behaviors.
I will write more along these lines, but in the meantime, take a look at Young’s excellent paper. http://zum.io/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Design-thinking-and-sustainability.pdf
Hi Steve – thanks so much for your kind words.
I totally agree with you re: DT and sustainability going hand-in hand, and I think we are seeing this happen more and more, even though at the moment most activity seems to be centred in the “social innovation” space, especially in the UK. I’m hopeful that we’ll see more and more examples more directly targeting sustainability moving forward.
Regards, Grant
Hi Grant,
Great to hear from you. I was quite excited to see your writing and see that others a grappling with this. For a long time I have struggled with how to put the right framework on this concept. Most examples are very design focused (i.e. How to create a sustainable product) which is completely understandable. I am hoping over time there will be a shift up the conceptual ladder to looking more in depth (and using DT tools) to reframe the fundamental problems that are being addressed rather than just reframing the technical solution and taking the nature of the problem for granted. Now that I think about it, it makes sense that this is first getting traction in the social innovation space.
Best,
Steve