Avoiding Design

Artefacts are always closely integrated into a network of supply chains, labour, economic cycles and social factors. Instead of analysing this network and streamlining the individual factors, ‘Avoiding Design’ seeks to prevent the integration of these factors into a product as far as possible. The aim of this approach is to dematerialise the economic system and reduce the number of products.

This practice prevents a logic of economic growth and pursues a condensing growth instead of a limitless acceleration. Recognising and using what already exists becomes the maxim for action. The classic understanding of innovation is questioned and the designer is positioned as a key figure of reduction and prevention. This change of paradigm in the understanding of roles must be fought for, as a positivistic understanding of design has become established and rejection is usually seen as deficient and economically damaging.

The design profession cannot solve the environmental problems created by an economic mania for innovation, optimisation and increase through the same thinking that caused them.

Avoiding Design is a principle that shows concrete solutions for a more sustainable use of our resources. It describes the possibilities for discarding, preventing and undoing products and calls for the design process to be rethought as a discarding process.