Challenging the Role of Design(ing) in the Sustainability Field: Towards a 'Humble' Design Approach

Abstract

Design for Sustainability (DfS) and Sustainable Interaction Design (SID) have a large focus on exposing norms in society around sustainability. While various legitimate arguments have been made against the limited scope of mainstream Design for Behaviour and HCI approaches within these fields, it needs further exploration on what the scope and approaches could be instead. We have been experimenting with co-creative 'humble' design approaches together with various actor-stakeholders. Central in these approaches are embracing different perspectives by strengthening the situated experiences, values and norms of the various stakeholders, and creating platforms for discussion rather than stressing a specific perspective of what is 'good or right'. Objectives for the workshop are to define reflections on various approaches at hand, as well as drafting common ground for a research agenda within HCI. In this workshop we will focus on three themes: uncertainty, humbleness and reflectivity.