Teaching Sustainable Responsibility through Informal Undergraduate Design Education

Louise R. Manfredi, Meriel Stokoe, Rebecca Kelly and Seyeon Lee
Additional contact information
Louise R. Manfredi: School of Design, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
Meriel Stokoe: Arts Administration, Le Moyne College, Syracuse, NY 13214, USA
Rebecca Kelly: School of Design, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
Seyeon Lee: School of Design, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 15, 1-13

Abstract: Recent reports, initiatives, and activities around higher education institutions revealed the relevance and value of sustainability education through both formal curriculum and informal curriculum activities. While the significance of sustainability education has continuously improved by raising awareness among new generations of students, it has not adequately promoted pro-environmental behaviors or attitude changes. This research study used a linear pretest–posttest experimental approach to understand whether two codesigned interventions; a trash and recycling bin system, and a Materials Exchange program, could improve sustainability literacy and material conservation behaviors across the School of Design. Additionally, a mid-experiment focus group study was conducted to provide text-rich data for analysis of 3R behaviors. Analysis of the data collected revealed that these interventions were reasonably successful in improving responsible material management. To have a greater impact on sustainable behavior, it is suggested that a formal educational experience should supplement the informal interventions described in this paper to onboard students as they enter the design studio culture. Additionally, the expansion of the trash and recycling bin station system into the university dormitories is discussed. This work has successfully catalyzed a collaboration between all School of Design stakeholders to address studio waste in a tangible way.

Keywords: studio waste management; design education; sustainable material reuse; reduction; recycling; 3Rs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/15/8378/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/15/8378/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:15:p:8378-:d:602478

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().