This project used a decision-making model in the process of consumption. According to the model, people make a decision from the given options and information about its consequences. I assumed that some of the current consumption processes do not have a clear option to lead users to use reusable items.
Design as Intervention
I conducted two case studies which intervene the consumption processes and suggest an environmentally desirable option for users in the moment of decision making.
The first case study Locally DIY was to display reusable items at a store to encourage reusing existing items by modifying its purpose instead of consuming a new product. By showing an easy handicraft instruction on the used items, this intervention allows consumers to bring do-it-yourself(DIY) culture to the moment of purchase.
The second case study Reusing Bins is to categorize the waste by reusability instead of materials. It intervenes the moment of disposing of things and gives opportunities to utilize them for those who needs them shortly. While reusable items are collected, some in good condition would allow other people to harness them officially.
To identify the perception of waste, I looked into the relationship between humans and objects.
The objects have been manufactured based on human needs and have served humans for their entire lives. Nevertheless, they ultimately have been pointed out as the main culprit of environmental damage. Humans utilize both objects and nature, but they have not taken full responsibility after use. If we put ourselves in the object’s shoes, objects can be thought of as victims because humans have always caused the environmental contamination. If objects are victimized by humans, can we consider them as stakeholders? According to the definition of stakeholder, “anyone who is directly or indirectly affected by the actions of an organization,” the concept of the stakeholder is entirely applicable for objects.
The idea of considering objects as equal beings as humans goes along the lines with the eastern worldview in philosophy. In western worldview, humans are dominant species who have the right to utilize natural resources. In contrast to the western, the eastern worldview considers humans as one of the organisms interconnected with others. It even regards nonliving things as part of the ecosystem. Philosophers have also pointed out the weakness of the western worldview in dealing with climate change. Accordingly, the idea of nonliving stakeholders is helpful to establish more harmonious relationships not only between humans and nature, but also between humans and objects.
Design as Speculation
If objects were stakeholders like humans, what would our everyday environment look like?
If the objects are service providers, the action of purchase would be signing a service contract.
When a consumer purchases a chicken teriyaki, plastic containers, forks, napkins are service providers and their terms are longer than the food.
If the containers are intelligent individuals, they might communicate each other, and talk about their abused situations. Container Union, the agency for the containers might provide some supplies to protect their members in a cafe.
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If the Container Union provides a service to humans, what would it look like?
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In the era of the Internet of Things and Big Data, the object stakeholders might build a credit system to protect themselves and the environment.
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