The Routledge Handbook of Sustainable Design considers the design, not only of artifacts, but of structures, systems, and interactions that bear our decisions and identities in the context of sustaining our shared planet. In addressing issues of design for global impact, behavior change, systems and strategy, ethics and values, this handbook presents a unique and powerful design perspective.

Just as there are multiple definitions of design, so there are several definitions of sustainability, making it difficult to find unity. The term can sometimes be seen as a goal to achieve, or a characteristic to check off on a list of criteria. In actuality, we will never finish being sustainable. We must instead always strive to design, work, and live sustainably. The voices throughout this handbook present many different characteristics, layers, approaches, and perspectives in this journey of sustaining.

This handbook divides into five sections, which together present a holistic approach to understanding the many facets of sustainable design:
Part 1: Systems and Design
Part 2: Global Impact
Part 3: Values, Ethics, and Identity
Part 4: Design for Behavior Change
Part 5: Moving Forward

This handbook will be invaluable to those wishing to broaden their understanding of sustainable design and students and practitioners of Environmental Studies, Architecture, Product Design and the Visual Arts.

About the Author

Rachel Beth Egenhoefer is a designer, artist, writer, and professor, whose work integrates technology, craft, and design. Her work focuses on sustainability and systems thinking in the context of behavior change. As an educator, she is involved in several initiatives to promote sustainability in both the design field and across higher education curricula. Egenhoefer is an Associate Professor of Design in the Department of Art + Architecture at the University of San Francisco.

Reviews

"A timely book that (finally) situates design within a systems context. Diverse articles examine the social and environmental implications of designed images, artifacts, systems and structures in a globally inter-connected and interdependent world as well as the ethics and values that underpin them. Essential reading for designing responsibly in the 21st century." - Terry Irwin, Head, School of Design, Carnegie Mellon University

"This compelling collection is an outstanding resource for people who see design as a tool that can be used to create a better civilization, whether they be practitioners, students, researchers, or enthusiasts. Egenhoefer reminds us of our responsibility to use our professional skills and opportunities to not just do good design, but to do good!" - David Berman, RGD, FGDC, Sustainability Chair, Icograda/ico-D

"The comprehensive and anticipatory nature of this book is profoundly informative and operationally useful in ways that previous books have not been. It is by being so comprehensive on the front end that we designers can mitigate the Law of Unintended Consequences that has so often plagued the practice of design.

While this book is aimed at designers, it would also be useful for political leaders, policy makers and theoretical thinkers in any field. As a society, we are woefully silo-ed by profession, nationality and paradigm. This condition does not accrue to our collective benefit. Any approach that seeks to dismantle this myopic state of affairs will persevere. This book seeks to do just that." - Peter Dean, Co-Founder and Concentration Coordinator, Nature Culture Sustainability Studies Concentration, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)

"We are only beginning to explore how design can create the conditions for net positive change throughout society. This handbook shows how design thinking is breaking out of its pas

Book Information
ISBN 9780367877842
Author Rachel Beth Egenhoefer
Format Paperback
Page Count 548
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 453g