Abstract
In our contemporary world we are using resources extensively to the point of their depletion. The call for more sustainable ways of living is louder than ever before, asking for a better awareness of the flows of resources and energy. This paper looks into existing design perspectives towards energy use in our daily living. By exploring relevant literature in social sciences and in design, and earlier research related to energy use, we identify a need to connect the design for conservation more strongly with human emotions and their relations in the social realm, and thus iterate the systems collaboratively in real-life settings through constructive design research approach (Koskinen et al. 2011). The questions arising from the earlier research on design in such context are elaborated further into notions relating to design action and education. Consequently, we suggest elements for such action, as well as an educational model to further the inquiry between energy use and emotions.
Keywords
design for sustainability, design education, emotions, conservation, feedback
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/learnxdesign.2013.090
Citation
Marttila, T., Archarya, K., Gegner, L.,and Bovermann, T.(2013) Energy and Emotions: transdisciplinary design education for resource conservation, in Reitan, J.B., Lloyd, P., Bohemia, E., Nielsen, L.M., Digranes, I., & Lutnæs, E. (eds.), DRS // Cumulus: Design Learning for Tomorrow, 14-17 May, Oslo, Norway. https://doi.org/10.21606/learnxdesign.2013.090
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Included in
Energy and Emotions: transdisciplinary design education for resource conservation
In our contemporary world we are using resources extensively to the point of their depletion. The call for more sustainable ways of living is louder than ever before, asking for a better awareness of the flows of resources and energy. This paper looks into existing design perspectives towards energy use in our daily living. By exploring relevant literature in social sciences and in design, and earlier research related to energy use, we identify a need to connect the design for conservation more strongly with human emotions and their relations in the social realm, and thus iterate the systems collaboratively in real-life settings through constructive design research approach (Koskinen et al. 2011). The questions arising from the earlier research on design in such context are elaborated further into notions relating to design action and education. Consequently, we suggest elements for such action, as well as an educational model to further the inquiry between energy use and emotions.