Author ORCID Identifier
Martin Sjöman: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5187-5742
Mia Hesselgren: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0167-7385
Abstract
It is increasingly clear that the sustainable transitions needed to counter climate change depend on lifestyle changes. However, the task of encouraging a shift to more sustainable lifestyles is highly complex. This paper describes an emerging design research method to explore possible pathways towards such sustainable transitions. We describe a living labs-approach based on design practice, developed within [Author affiliation], a design and sustainability research group at [Author affiliation]. We refer to this method as Designerly Living Labs. Based on empirical learnings from four such Living Labs we present eight key characteristics. We then highlight some important aspects that affect how future concepts and solutions can be explored in connection with the lifestyles and material contexts on which they depend. One finding is that ‘living the change’ may be needed to identify potential positive, and often social gains from more sustainable practices.
Keywords
living lab; practice-based design; sustainable transition; sustainable lifestyles
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2020.307
Citation
Sjöman, M., and Hesselgren, M. (2020) Designerly Living Labs: Early-stage exploration of future sustainable concepts, in Boess, S., Cheung, M. and Cain, R. (eds.), Synergy - DRS International Conference 2020, 11-14 August, Held online. https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2020.307
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Designerly Living Labs: Early-stage exploration of future sustainable concepts
It is increasingly clear that the sustainable transitions needed to counter climate change depend on lifestyle changes. However, the task of encouraging a shift to more sustainable lifestyles is highly complex. This paper describes an emerging design research method to explore possible pathways towards such sustainable transitions. We describe a living labs-approach based on design practice, developed within [Author affiliation], a design and sustainability research group at [Author affiliation]. We refer to this method as Designerly Living Labs. Based on empirical learnings from four such Living Labs we present eight key characteristics. We then highlight some important aspects that affect how future concepts and solutions can be explored in connection with the lifestyles and material contexts on which they depend. One finding is that ‘living the change’ may be needed to identify potential positive, and often social gains from more sustainable practices.