Output details
34 - Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
University of Dundee
Steps to an ecology of product innovation.
Ecological thinking must now form a significant part of the thinking of all kinds of designers and this paper focused particularly on product design and development. Unfortunately, many designers have limited understanding of biology and ecology and little time or motivation to study the specifics. This piece of theoretical and speculative research, synthesized the appropriate literature in both product design and ecological design and developed a set of guidelines in the form of six steps to a more ecological approach to product design courses and business practices. This is the first time that this has been done and published in the product design and innovation literature. This original paper creates an essential framework for thinking ecologically and opens up the design field for further exploration and explanation. The paper makes a significant contribution to the important approach and to the teaching and learning at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels in design.
The significance of this European wide research conference is demonstrated through its association with the Design Society and the Institution of Engineering Designers. This submission aligned itself to the conference theme, “Design Curriculum” and extended our understanding of conceiving and practicing innovation in contemporary society.
