Glad I asked...Thanks for all the replies so far, both on and off list -
quite a number of useful references to publications, projects and web
sites. I'll compile the results and post the compilation to my website.
I'll send the weblink to the list when it's completed. The interest in
this topic appears to be quite fervent-- perhaps it merits its own list,
sometime down the road...I'm subscribed to a number of lists but don't
find any that deal with "social" or "sustainable" design in a digital
context...

 

I should mention that I too have written a bit on the topic of open
source industrial design and architecture, in my new book, The
Designer's Atlas of Sustainability (Island Press, 2007). It's a full
colour, illustrated book that charts the conceptual landscape for
sustainability in design terms through ecology, economy and culture. In
the section on culture I cover issues such as "open source design,"
engagement and connection, sensuality, and issues of time and design
(fast, slow, evolving artifacts and embodying time), all within the
context of human wellbeing (my framework for cultural sustainability).
This work is what spawned my current research.

 

For any of you teaching sustainable design, the book has a teaching
guide (structured, of course, as an "open source" document with a
creative commons license).  The guide offers university-level teachers
ways of exploring concepts from the book with design students. The guide
is free to download at http://www.designers-atlas.net, where you can
also get more info about the book itself. 

 

The initial version of the guide is about 60 pages long, contains about
10 design briefs, a dozen exercises and a range of ideas for events
(guest lecturers, films and field trips), along with some writing
assignments. Most of the material is fairly adaptable to a range of
design disciplines (product, architecture, graphics, fashion etc.). The
guide also offers some background and reflection on teaching sustainable
design. It doesn't yet contain images...these are to come as it evolves.

 

I look forward to more discussions with those of you interested in these
topics.

 

Cheers,

Ann

 

Ann Thorpe

Dept. of Design and Innovation, Open University, Walton Hall, Milton
Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK

+44 (0) 1908 653568