A Design Framework to Build Sustainable Societies: Using Happiness as Leverage

Abstract

Increasingly, design is being forced to re-examine the role it plays in the happiness of people and the sustainability of society. This paper proposes the 'Design for Happiness' Framework as an approach to address this and it is illustrated through a design study. The design methods, process and characteristics of products and services capable of contributing in a positive and holistic way to these issues are discussed. The findings demonstrate that the framework encourages the reinterpretation of the relationship between products, services, and users; approaching design from a new perspective where the characteristics of what is meaningful for people sits at its core. The results are innovative systemic designs with high potential to contribute to happier sustainable societies.Downloaded by [193.90.12.90] at 11:

Responsible consumer and lifestyle: Sustainability insights

“…A situation like this, which stems from the volatility of consumer attitudes and behaviour, is not easy for businesses ( Jones et al., 2017 ). Thus, an individual, with their behaviours towards themselves, including health, wellbeing, sense of happiness, comfort and safety, is as important as the entire society ( Marchand and Walker, 2008 ; Escobar-Tello, 2016 ; Dłużewska, 2019 ). This issue is complex, too, as the very theories of well-being can be based on hedonic and eudaimonic ethical approaches ( Lamb and Steinberger, 2017 ; Kumano, 2018 ).…”

“…There is no universal sustainable lifestyle. This is due to different perspectives of people – their personality traits ( Barr and Gilg, 2006 ) and sense of happiness ( Escobar-Tello, 2016 ; Onel et al., 2018 ) – who identify themselves as living or trying to live in a more sustainable and/or eco-friendly way ( Evans and Abrahamse, 2009 ). Most often, these behaviours (including sustainable consumption: clothing and food, and various related trends and currents: anti-consumption, voluntary simplifiers, collaborative consumption, boycott behaviour) are reflected in the way of running one's household, the use of transportation or managing leisure (e.g.…”

Objects with symbolic meaning: 16 directions to inspire design for well-being

“…Previous research has postulated that attributing symbolic value to products is a way to support subjective well-being (Pohlmeyer, 2012). This type of value does not come from ownership, but from what products enable and represent to people (Pohlmeyer and Desmet, 2017): for example, the significance of a product can relate to shared values and the contribution to something bigger than the self (Donnelly et al, 2016;Escobar-Tello, 2016), to meaningful life events (Goodman et al, 2016), and to happy experiences (Yang et al, 2017) and thus the product contributes to subjective well-being. In our research, we have taken on the challenge of developing design directions that aim to inspire designs that are likely candidates for symbolic meaning attribution.…”

“…Another opportunity for future research concerns the consequences for sustainable behaviour of using products or living and operating in environments that support wellbeing. Based on previous research (e.g., Trudel et al, 2016) products with such value are expected to be used and disposed of in a more sustainable way, and such environments can be expected to stimulate and encourage sustainable ways of living (Escobar-Tello and Bhamra, 2013;Escobar-Tello, 2016). Future research can explore further the consequences for sustainable behaviour of products and environments that are designed with a focus on well-being through symbolic meaning.…”

“…Research in positive psychology has sought to devise and test positive interventions (e.g., activities) to support it (Boniwell, 2012;Snyder and Lopez, 2002). Products and their design can play a role in facilitating such activities and symbolising such meaningful experiences, thereby supporting subjective well-being (Abalada, 2014;Desmet, 2011;Escobar-Tello, 2016;Lacey, 2009;Ruitenberg and Desmet, 2012). Casais et al (2016) found six distinct symbolic meanings of everyday consumer products that can contribute to subjective well-being.…”