Book
The designer's atlas of sustainability
Record details
- ISBN: 1597261009 (pbk. : alk. paper)
- ISBN: 1597260991 (cloth : alk. paper)
- ISBN: 9781597261005 (pbk. : alk. paper)
- ISBN: 9781597260992 (cloth : alk. paper)
-
Physical Description:
225 p. : ill. (chiefly col.) ; 27 cm.
print - Publisher: Washington, DC : Island Press, c2007.
Content descriptions
| Bibliography, etc. Note: | Includes bibliographical references (p. 202-213) and index. |
| Formatted Contents Note: | Pt. 1. Introduction -- Pt. 2. Ecology -- Pt. 3. Economy -- Pt. 4. Culture -- Pt. 5. Frontiers. |
Search for related items by subject
| Subject: | Sustainable development Industrial design -- Environmental aspects |
Available copies
- 0 of 1 copy available at Emily Carr University of Art + Design.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 1 total copy.
Show Only Available Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Circulation Modifier | Holdable? | Status | Due Date | Courses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emily Carr University of Art + Design | HC79 .E5 T486 2007 (Text) | 30216424 | Book | Not holdable | Lost | 2021-08-20 |
More information
- Choice Reviews : Choice Reviews 2007 December
Thorpe uses the term "atlas" because of the illustrations that provide significant visual content in her book, which focuses on design for sustainable development. Three aspects of sustainability are addressed individually, with chapters on ecology, economy, and culture. These topics are integrated into a final chapter titled "Frontiers." The book is written for designers such as architects and graphic artists. It is easy to read and will interest all who have an interest in sustainability and sustainable development. The message is that all citizens must participate and take responsibility for the transition to a sustainable world. The author writes: "Overall, we must consider human well-being in terms of environmental, economic, and cultural conditions and consider whether our contributions to those conditions truly support well-being and support it indefinitely." There is a list for further reading at the end of each chapter; however, this is not a book with an extensive list of references to related work, but one that provides a good picture of the issues that designers face as they consider sustainability in their work. Summing Up: Recommended. All levels. Copyright 2007 American Library Association. - ForeWord Magazine Reviews : ForeWord Magazine Reviews 2007 July/August
Between hybrid cars, organic cotton t-shirts, and energy efficient light bulbs, it's clear the environment is increasingly on people's minds---not least for those who design these eco-items. In this useful new book, Thorpe, a senior lecturer in design at the Surrey Institute of Art and Design, has compiled a superb primer on the conceptual principles behind the sustainability movement so that all designers---whether they're working on buildings, cars, or ads---can help society move toward a sustainable future by implementing "environmental and social conditions that will support human well-being indefinitely." The book is conceptualized as a type of atlas, or reference book, with bite-size chapters organized under three main section headings: ecology, economy, and culture. Thorpe envisions her target audience as consisting primarily of professional designers, and as a result, the book has a graphically fresh layout that is brimming with colorful images, tables, graphs, and informational boxes that summarize and elaborate upon the subject at hand, venturing into definitions of terms like "bioregion" or explanations of movements like the slow food movement. At the conclusion of each section there is a helpful pictorial overview of the material covered, highlighting that section's main ideas and therefore touching on topics as diverse as renewable materials, the values of the nonprofit sector, or the way that contemporary artifacts are built for only short-term durability. Both the veteran eco-designer and the average reader will easily be able to dip in and out of the book. Thorpe is the founding editor and publisher of On the Ground: Multimedia Journal on Community, Design, and Environment and in The Designer's Atlas of Sustainability she has pulled together a handy and wide-ranging resource that catalogs and illustrates the way environmental considerations could change the way people make and use objects---like the t-shirt that has been designed so that it never needs to be washed. The ecology section not only considers designers' use of materials, it also touches on the importance of considering local environmental conditions, as some designers did when they used penguin feathers to insulate clothing. Part two---economy---efficiently moves from an explanation of the way priceless items like breathable air and clean water frequently remain unvalued by the marketplace to a definition of globalization. And part three---culture---includes amongst other topics, a discussion of the importance of creating designs that encourage human connection with nature. The book is topical in nature, and there aren't always many concrete examples of sustainable design in action, but then, Thorpe wants the book to act as a reference text, not a how-to manual. Sustainable design is a complex matter and, as Thorpe smartly acknowledges, there isn't any one "travel route" that can be taken toward a green future. As she puts it: "The aim of this atlas is not to resolve which is the best route---but rather to chart the complexities in such a way as to help you navigate various routes through the landscape of sustainability." The book succeeds in this task. é2006 ForeWord Magazine. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2007 ForeWord Reviews. - Library Journal Reviews : LJ Reviews 2007 September #1
There's more to sustainable design than recyclable bottles and solar panels, asserts UK design instructor Thorpe (editor, On the Ground: Multimedia Journal on Community, Design and Environment ). Thorpe presents a holistic approach to embedding sustainability into every step of the design process that is applicable to everything from jeans to office buildings. Rather than promoting any specific technology or process, she uses the metaphor of an atlas to guide the designer through various "landscapes," treating ecology, the economy, and culture as interdependent spheres the designer should strive to understand, engage, and enhance. In keeping with the atlas conceit, many photos, illustrations, and charts appear throughout the creatively formatted text. Thorpe's critique of endless economic growth and her stance on natural resources may rankle conservative readers, but others will find this book a welcome antidote to unfettered free-market capitalism. More a textbook than an atlas and supplemented with a companion web site (www.designers-atlas.net ) offering a teaching guide, it should make a welcome addition to libraries serving design students and faculty.âDavid Soltsz, Cuyahoga Cty. P.L., Parma, OH
[Page 134]. Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.
