Design livelihoods in the polycrisis: Approaches for designers to organise towards degrowth compatible livelihoods

Thumbnail Image

URL

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

School of Arts, Design and Architecture | Master's thesis
Location:

Authors

Date

2023

Department

muo

Major/Subject

Mcode

Degree programme

Master's Programme in Creative Sustainability

Language

en

Pages

111

Series

Abstract

The compounding crises of climate change (IPCC, 2022), biodiversity loss (IPBES et al., 2019) and social inequality (IMF, 2017) are a gripping call to action for designers, makers and engineers. These intersecting and mutually enhancing crises are often referred to by scholars as the polycrisis (Janzwood & Homer-Dixon, 2022). Many of the “business as usual” approaches would require us, as designers, to actively contribute to economic growth, the very thing that post-growth movements including degrowth, believe to be at the core of our socio-ecological challenges. This research uses the lens of degrowth to examine the polycrisis and draws inspiration from degrowth’s principles and imaginaries of an alternative society. By investigating five design organisations in the Global North and Global South that align their practices with degrowth principles, this research examines livelihoods that are aligned with degrowth. By reflecting on the successes and challenges of these organisations, and their organisational logics, this research presents ways that designers might organise to be compatible with degrowth principles. The concept of conviviality emerges as a central theme, offering a potential approach for organisations to emphasise collectivism, distribution and democratic control – in turn enabling livelihoods that may be able to address the pressing demands of the polycrisis.

Description

Supervisor

Berglund, Eeva

Thesis advisor

Rumo, Delphine

Keywords

degrowth, conviviality, diverse economies, livelihoods, design practice, post-growth organising

Other note

Citation

Permanent link to this item

https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202401281786

Collections

[master] Taiteiden ja suunnittelun korkeakoulu / ARTS