What is sustainable design?

Team Udayavani, Nov 13, 2020, 12:12 PM IST

Sustainable design seeks to reduce negative impacts on the environment. It is a concept of reducing or completely eliminating negative environmental impacts through thoughtful designs

There are many fields of specialization within the design profession, architecture, fashion, experience design, interiors, interactive design, graphic design, product design, and web design

It will seek to incorporate environmentally-preferable outcomes such as  lower energy and water consumption through the entire lifecycle from manufacture to daily use to disposal

Also, the design makes sure that there is minimum impact on climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions or mitigating them through carbon neutralizing activities

They limit resource consumption through waste-free manufacturing, and emphasize on recycled materials

They use non-toxic, sustainably produced, or recycled materials which have a lower environmental impact than traditional materials. Design products for reuse and recycling. Make them easy to disassemble so that the parts can be reused to make new products.

Minimize impact on the local ecosystem and look for ways to incorporate biomimicry principles where possible

Some also make sure that materials come from nearby, sustainably managed renewable sources that can be composted when their usefulness is exhausted.

For more info about sustainable sources for interior design, consider taking up a relevant course in the National Design Academy.