Future Skills of Design for Sustainability: An Awareness-Based Co-Creation Approach

Kirsi Hakio and Tuuli Mattelmäki
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Kirsi Hakio: Department of Design, School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Aalto University, 02150 Espoo, Finland
Tuuli Mattelmäki: Department of Design, School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Aalto University, 02150 Espoo, Finland

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 19, 1-24

Abstract: Our inner, invisible dimension consisting of our values, mental models and worldviews, has been identified as a significant leverage point for transformational change, as it brings to life our actions. Accordingly, the inner dimension of sustainability has a major role in transitioning towards desirable and sustainable futures. This paper focuses on exploring what kind of methods and competences are needed to access and work with the inner dimension as part of collaborative design practices aiming for sustainable and deep change. Thus, a lesser researched, alternative perspective to design discourse, the awareness-based co-creation approach is highlighted as a potential and emerging direction for design for sustainability. By thinking across: (1) literature findings of the concept of inner dimension of sustainability; (2) existing knowledge of awareness-based transformation approaches and (3) results of an experimental case study done in the context of nature tourism, it was recognized that more examples are needed on how to enable, promote and capture participants’ transformative experiences. Finally, the argument is made that awareness-based competencies should be considered as essential future skills and competences of design for sustainability.

Keywords: awareness-based approach; inner dimension of sustainability; future skills; mental models; key competences for sustainability; co-design; design for sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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