Role of Designers in Ethical and Sustainable Design

Abstract

Sustainability is a much used word in the last few decades leading to new innovations and developments in different sectors of the society. There are many alternative meanings of sustainability, but etymologically, the word ‘sustain’ means to keep something going or to provide support. In this perspective, we might think of sustainability as a way of preserving life and protecting the environment. In a more practical sense, sustainability can be described as any action or process that has little or no negative impact on the natural world or living organisms, including other humans. It’s all about figuring out how to meet life's demands without harming society or jeopardising future generations. It would not be wrong to share how textile and other industries have included new raw materials in their basket along with the application of advanced technology which have shown positive results in environmental protection. A shift from fast fashion to circular fashion is another important initiative to meet the goal of sustainable development and protecting the mother earth. All stakeholders are playing their role to combat the situation of environmental pollution but it is important to understand the role of designers in the context of sustainability. The horizon of sustainability needs to expand by analysing the designs and their impact on society. Designing includes fundamental issues of practical decision making and is concerned with the values and standards by which human actions are categorised as good or bad. This chapter will discuss the ethical approach, designers of different fields should take to work towards the three pillars of sustainability. In addition, the views of different critics and authors will be presented leading to design thinking and moral responsibility at each stage of design development.