The ‘Nordic Approach’ and how it may support Design for Sustainability
DS 85-1: Proceedings of NordDesign 2016, Volume 1, Trondheim, Norway, 10th - 12th August 2016
Year: 2016
Editor: Boks, Casper; Sigurjonsson, Johannes; Steinert, Martin; Vis, Carlijn; Wulvik, Andreas
Author: Ali, Faheem; Verhulst, Elli; Boks, Casper
Series: NordDESIGN
Institution: Department of Product Design, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway
Section: Design for Sustainability
Page(s): 206-215
ISBN: 978-1-904670-80-3
Abstract
The Nordic industries have been considered to be one of the first movers on sustainability related topics. This research work aims at exploring the ‘Nordic Approach’ in a Design for Sustainability (DfS) context and is based on findings from existing literature and industrial reports in a broader field of research pertaining to the Nordics. The paper investigates and presents factors and drivers that distinguish the Nordic countries from the rest of the world. This work concludes with a discussion on how a thorough understanding of what the Nordic Approach entails may improve further theoretical and applied work related to Design for Sustainability. Such an understanding may in turn inform a discussion on the potential need for customised tools, methods and approaches for implementing Design for Sustainability within Nordic industry and public work environments. The paper also identifies future research potential correlating the ‘Nordic approach’ and DfS. The paper concludes with a discussion on how a thorough understanding of what the Nordic Approach entails (i.e. should it be possible to identify one) may improve further theoretical and applied work related to Design for Sustainability. Such an understanding may in turn inform a discussion on the potential need for customised tools, methods and approaches for implementing Design for Sustainability within Nordic industry and public work environments.
Keywords: Design for sustainability, Nordic Approach, Soft side, organisational factors, change management