Building Sustainable Change

Morgan  A. Sobol

doi:10.7273/000008037

"Originally, designers imagined balance when they thought about art on the wall, pillows on the couch, and everything aligned. Although now designers know that design is more than simply what we can see, it is also about how our choices affect the people and environment around us. Design is based on lived experience, values, an memory. In The Memory Palace, Hollis (2012) explains how places influence identity and store memories. This helped me realize that interior design affects not just what we remember but also what we leave behind, which is why it has emotional and environmental significance. This understanding has a connection to what Rittel and Webber (1973) refer to as wicked problems, these are difficulties that are so complex, connected, and filled with values, both personal and societal. Sustainability is a perfect example of this. Every design choice has an impact on waste management, manufacturing processes, and the health of humans. As Spencer (2013) points out, wicked problems in design are chances to rethink our approach rather than see challenges overcome. A systemic approach is essential for sustainable design, one that considers long-term environmental, cultural, and social effects in addition to aesthetically pleasing characteristics. Goss, Tromp, and Schifferstein (2025) explain, designing sustainably requires understanding how system dynamics work across both scales and time. This allows designers to balance immediate functionality with long term ecological and social well-being. "

Building Sustainable Change

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