Okala

1. This lesson on ecological design was developed by: Scott A. Warner, Ed.D., IDSA Associate Professor Department of Industry and Technology Millersville University of Pennsylvania PO BOX 1002 Millersville, PA 17551 Phone:(717)-872-3365 FAX:(717)-872-3318 scott.warner@millersville.edu Okala learning ecological design Quotes and statistics are from the booklet Okala; developed by Steve Belletire, IDAA, Louise St. Pierre, IDSA, and Philip White, IDSA for the Ecodesign Section of the Industrial Designers Society of America © 2007

2. Okala: (oqala)from the Hopi language, meaning life sustaining energy • The energy used to create, develop, manufacture and use products can sustain life on this planet, rather than deplete it. • Implies a forward and optimistic view • Designers who persistently seek out ecological design work will have the greatest opportunity to make a meaningful difference.

3. Some Sobering Statistics • The natural environment has always been affected by the presence of human beings • Since the beginning of the Industrial Age (approximately 1750) the environmental impact of human activity has increased exponentially • The consumer driven economy we live in now has only made that impact worse • Statistics that reflect that include:

4. Global Temperatures • The global temperature averaged 57.4 degrees F in 1965 and 58.6 degrees in 2006. A raise of 8 degrees F would turn all of the earth’s land surface into desert scrub except for the most Northern and most Southern latitudes. Image found at www.nwhi.org/index/habdescriptions

5. Melting Ice Caps • Ice on the North and South poles and Greenland is melting at an alarming rate; if half of Greenland’s ice melts, the oceans worldwide could raise 20 feet. Image found at www.surveygalaxy.com/show_sur_form.asp?survey...

6. Forests • Nearly half of the world’s old growth forests are gone. Image found at greenoptions.com/category/palm_oil

7. Human Population • Human population will grow from 6.1 billion to 9 billion by 2050. • Most of that growth will occur in increasingly industrialized countries such as China and India. Image found at www.bartellonline.com/chinapic.php?i=7500

8. Fish Stocks • The 1950-1997 oceanic fish harvest grew from 19 million to 95 million tons, resulting in major declines of many species. Image found at www.janetdavisphotography.com/awards.html

9. Declining Bio-Diversity • 11% of all birds, 25% of all mammals and 34% of all fish species are on endangered species lists. 50 % of all tropical plant species are at risk of extinction. • The cause is destruction of habitats from human interference, pollution and climate change. Image found at www.kidsplanet.org/factsheets/esa.html

10. Farming & the Environment • Arable cropland demand is converting forests to land used for non-biologically diverse crop species. Image found at www.agriculture.purdue.edu/.../index.html

11. Time for a Thought Experiment • What would the world be like without humans? • How long would it take to get rid of all signs that we had been here? Image found at www.tred.cl/fgf_blog/index.php?paged=2

12. An Earthly TimeLine Image found at englishrussia.com/?p=276

13. What Can a Designer Do? • Design with Innovation • Use Low-Impact Materials • Use Optimized ManufacturingTechniques • Design for Efficient Distribution • Design for Low-Impact Use of the Product • Design for an Optimized Product Lifetime • Plan the Product for an Optimized End of Life

14. Design with Innovation • Rethink how to provide the benefit • Serve needs provided by associated products • Anticipate technological change and build in flexibility • Provide product as service • Share among more users • Design to mimic nature • Use living organisms in the product Image found at www.ldeo.columbia.edu/.../pages/velcro.html

15. Use Low-Impact Materials • Avoid materials that damage human health, ecological health, or deplete resources • Use minimal materials • Use renewable materials • Use waste byproducts • Use thoroughly tested materials • Use recycled or reused materials Image found at www.flexiblelove.com/products/

16. Use Optimized Manufacturing Techniques • Design for ease of production quality control • Minimize manufacturing waste • Minimize energy in production • Minimize number of production methods and operations • Minimize number of components/materials Image found at www.homeworkingsolutions.co.uk/.../index.cfm

17. Design for Efficient Distribution • Reduce product and packaging weight • Use reusable or recyclable packaging • Use an efficient transport system • Use local production and assembly Image found at www.inhabitat.com/category/graphics-packaging/

18. Design for Low-Impact Use of the Product • Minimize emissions. / Integrate cleaner or renewable energy sources • Reduce energy inefficiencies • Reduce water use inefficiencies • Reduce material use inefficiencies Image found at www.srptoilethire.co.uk/units.php

19. Design for Optimized Product Lifetime • Build in user’s desire to care for product long term • Design for take-back programs • Build in durability • Design for maintenance and easy repair • Design for upgrades • Design for second life with different function • Create timeless look or fashion Image found at www.dkimages.com/discover/Home/Sports-Games-R...

20. Plan the Product for Optimized End-of-Life • Integrate methods for product collection • Provide for ease of disassembly • Provide for recycling or down-cycling • Design reuse, or “next life of product” • Provide for reuse of components • Provide ability to biodegrade • Provide for safe disposal Image found at www.city.davis.ca.us/pw/recycle/rebuy.cfm

21. Final Thoughts • Keeping an ecological perspective should be important to a product designer • Reduce, reuse, recycle are the “three R’s” of product design • The Okala approach to product design is the way to succeed as a designer • Educators of design have an obligation to encourage the Okala approach in the work of their students

22. References • Belletire, S., Pierre, L. & White, P. (2007). Okala: Learning ecological design. Pheonix, AZ: IDSA • Weisman, A. (2007). The world without us. New York: St. Martin’s.