An Ecology of Design: From the Natural, through the Artificial, to the Un-Natural

By:

Ecology as a metaphor was picked up by the discipline of Design in the late 80’s with theorists such as Branzi, Manzini and Krippendorff’s exploration of ‘the ecology of the artificial’. This ecological metaphor played an important part in aiding the re-assessment of Design’s role in line with social and environmental issues. As evident in the Munich Design Charter of 1990, an ecological model was used to initiate a debate into the fundamental role Design has to play in developing our future. However, in the ensuing decade and a half, understanding of ecosystem functioning has changed considerably. This paper aims to re-visit the ecological metaphor, to see if a contemporary interpretation of current ecological theory is still useful in understanding the nature of Design’s interdisciplinary activities in the artificial world. The paper will start by outlining a brief evolution of ecological theory and what it has come to mean today. Then will go on to apply this contemporary notion of ecology to the artificial world. Concluding by suggesting how this contemporary ecological metaphor might inform the nature of design as an integrative interdisciplinary field.

Stream: Aesthetics, the Arts, Design

Paper: An Ecology for Design

Viveka Turnbull Hocking studied at the University of New South Wales in Zoology, Philosophy and Design, graduating with a Bachelor of Design with honours. She is now conducting her PhD with the Australian National University, looking at design research methodology for sustainable development through a case-study of sustainable tourism in the Snowy Mountains region of New South Wales. Viveka is also a Lecturer and Tutor for the School of Design and Architecture at the University of Canberra.