Design for post-growth living

Sustainability is one of the major topics of our age and the landscape of sustainability is huge, divers and complex. Technology and design are contributing to sustainability, but at the same time also play a role in exacerbating environmental crises through stimulating consumption. So, how can you design for a sustainable future? Post-growth paradigms have been emerging as a promising foundation for this question because it shifts societal focus away from economic growth towards living well within planetary boundaries. However, these paradigms also contain risks such political and cultural resistance and exacerbating inequalities, nationalism and gender inbalances.

To explore these risks and opportunities, the structure of the course is a combination of lectures, self-study, discussions, groupwork design assignments and individual reflections.

Through these elements and activities, we will explore various perspectives on what post-growth living is and how you might design for it. At the end of the course you will be challenged to translate your findings and reflections into a position statement that reflects your vision on (designing for) post-growth living. Specific topics that will be explored may vary per academic year and will be updated in accordance with academic state-of-the-art and societal developments.

Within the group assignments (approx.4-5 students per group) at least two post-growth perspectives will be explored further in a hands-on approach through a module spanning several weeks. Each group assignment will be rounded off with a group report and reflection. The final module is dedicated to creating a position statement. This assignment will be rounded off with a team presentation, and an individual reflection.

This course will not provide you with all the answers on how to design for post-growth living, nor is it an introduction to sustainable design in general. It assumes a basic level understanding of design processes and will challenge you to reflect on various perspectives on post-growth and your own role as a designer. As such, it aims to provide guidance on whether and how to include post-growth perspectives in your future development, enabling you to develop your own designers’ roadmap to contribute to our sustainable future.

Assignments and deliverables:
The course consists of four assignments; 2 general modules working in groups (4-5 students) based on a specific design perspective and one group assignment focused on creating a position statement, which includes an individual reflection.
The deliverable for the group assignments is a group report including a reflection. Requirements for the report may vary per assignment.
The deliverables for the team assignment are a position statement and an individual reflection.

The two general modules each contribute 30% to the end result.
The team-assignment (position statement + individual reflection) contribute 40% to the end result.
A peer review may be part of the procedure.

Knowledge (What?)
Developing understanding of the (historical) context of sustainability and how post-growth paradigms position in this field.
Learning about different post-growth perspectives for sustainable living
Gaining an overview of risks and opportunities to develop further in designing for post-growth living

Skills (How?)
Practicing designing for post-growth living by implementing at least two different approaches/perspectives in group assignments.

Attitude (Why?)
Being able to (critically) reflect on the role of design and technology in (un)sustainability from a post-growth perspective.
Developing a personal vision on post-growth paradigms and becoming aware how this relates to your personal design work and development as a designer.

Je moet voldoen aan de volgende eisen

• Ingeschreven voor een andere opleiding dan
• HBO-TOP Applied Physics, Schakelprogramma, Voltijd

• Preparatory readings and tasks will be communicated through Canvas