Here's a small challenge followed by a big one.
Mark said:
>>The testimonial conversion
of an energy-consumptive, atmosphere-polluting juggernaut to a lean,
green transporting machine would certainly have a significant impact.<<
How do you know that Mark? For example I don't notice that the Toyota hybrid car has had a "significant impact" by any measure
that interests me.
Before you can make a claim like that this audience, even as a tentative proposition, I suggest that you need to be able to say:
(a) what you mean by "significant"
(b) what you mean by "impact" and
(c) how you would go about discovering if and how there was one.
Incidentally, I was trained to design cars and I'm a committed believer in the need to sustain the planet (since before the 1972
Club of Rome/MIT "Limits to Growth" Report). I ride a bicycle everywhere as a political act as well as a lifestyle choice and and
I share most of the values that have been expressed in this discussion. But....
I'm slightly disappointed that my relatively value-free "it's a research question" comments about the wicked/tame nature of
different car designs had been brushed aside in the value-laden rush to talk about cars and the car industry. (Thanks Rosan, you
are a very honorable exception)
Never mind. My big challenge is: can the members of this discussion propose a valid research approach that designers can use to
advance our understanding of ANY of the problems raised in this discussion so far: From the assertions that I have observed these
problems or ideas might include:
Designers are frustrated by an unimaginative industry
Manufacturers are pandering to consumers to the detriment of the environment
Consumers are self-indulgently compensating for a lack of fulfilment in other aspects of their lives
Different designs might make be more sustainable (be very careful with this one)
And one raised recently by that leading environmentalist, George W. Bush:
"We are addicted to petroleum"
So let's stop chattering and see if we are able to define any useful research that designers (as opposed to economists,
ecologists, technologists, political scientists etc etc) can do, preferably using their talent for synthesising as a tool in the
research.
Best wishes from Sheffield
Chris
***************************************
Professor Chris Rust
Head of Art and Design Research Centre
Sheffield Hallam University
Psalter Lane
Sheffield S7 1SF, UK
+44 114 225 2686
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www.chrisrust.net
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