Abstract
At a global level, we can observe an increasing relation between Design and the new paradigm of Sustainable Development. This combination of Design and the three pillars of Sustainable Development (Social, Environment and Economics) have laid the new conceptual base for Design for Sustainability. On an international level, Research and Development in the field of material and production technologies has led to the development of promising new sustainable materials. These materials distinguish themselves from ordinary materials by for example consuming less raw materials and energy during production, by being lightweight or by being avoiding damage during the disposal stage of the products. At a regional level the availability of traditional sustainable materials and technologies (which are until now mainly connected to arts and crafts and applied by artisans), part of the Portuguese material cultural identity, could have an important role in the development of new sustainable design solutions and new contemporary expressions of Portuguese design, based upon the reinterpretation of Cultural Significances of Matter. Both the global and local context of materials knowledge were essential elements of the project “SMD: Significances of Matter in Design”, developed by: SUSDESIGN1 with the financial support of IA2 from the Portuguese Cultural Ministry, as well other relevant institutional partners: FBAUL3, DUT4 and IADE5. The main goal of the project was the development of research and application activities in the field of materials and design, including the relation between the new global trends in Design for Sustainability and Local Cultural Heritage (artifacts and materials). This was done by a wide range of activities, amongst others, by interacting with design students at design schools, by exploring materials characteristics and applications from traditional and new innovative materials. In addition Portuguese designers from different generations have been challenged to develop design solutions in collaboration with local artisans. The final outcome was an international exhibition demonstrating the results of the research, student works and the design solutions developed by teams of Portuguese designers & artisans. In this paper, the authors will present, first, the context of the project “Significances of Matter in Design”, the research methodology applied and finally the main activities and outcomes of the projects – the Design Projects - as well the main conclusions.
Keywords
Design for Sustainability, Design with Cultural aspects, New Crafts and Design.
Citation
Mestre, A., and Diehl, J. (2006) Significances of Matter in Design (SMD) A Portuguese Design Research Project about Sustainability, Identity and Innovation., in Friedman, K., Love, T., Côrte-Real, E. and Rust, C. (eds.), Wonderground - DRS International Conference 2006, 1-4 November, Lisbon, Portugal. https://dl.designresearchsociety.org/drs-conference-papers/drs2006/researchpapers/59
Significances of Matter in Design (SMD) A Portuguese Design Research Project about Sustainability, Identity and Innovation.
At a global level, we can observe an increasing relation between Design and the new paradigm of Sustainable Development. This combination of Design and the three pillars of Sustainable Development (Social, Environment and Economics) have laid the new conceptual base for Design for Sustainability. On an international level, Research and Development in the field of material and production technologies has led to the development of promising new sustainable materials. These materials distinguish themselves from ordinary materials by for example consuming less raw materials and energy during production, by being lightweight or by being avoiding damage during the disposal stage of the products. At a regional level the availability of traditional sustainable materials and technologies (which are until now mainly connected to arts and crafts and applied by artisans), part of the Portuguese material cultural identity, could have an important role in the development of new sustainable design solutions and new contemporary expressions of Portuguese design, based upon the reinterpretation of Cultural Significances of Matter. Both the global and local context of materials knowledge were essential elements of the project “SMD: Significances of Matter in Design”, developed by: SUSDESIGN1 with the financial support of IA2 from the Portuguese Cultural Ministry, as well other relevant institutional partners: FBAUL3, DUT4 and IADE5. The main goal of the project was the development of research and application activities in the field of materials and design, including the relation between the new global trends in Design for Sustainability and Local Cultural Heritage (artifacts and materials). This was done by a wide range of activities, amongst others, by interacting with design students at design schools, by exploring materials characteristics and applications from traditional and new innovative materials. In addition Portuguese designers from different generations have been challenged to develop design solutions in collaboration with local artisans. The final outcome was an international exhibition demonstrating the results of the research, student works and the design solutions developed by teams of Portuguese designers & artisans. In this paper, the authors will present, first, the context of the project “Significances of Matter in Design”, the research methodology applied and finally the main activities and outcomes of the projects – the Design Projects - as well the main conclusions.