Somebody Else’s Problem: Consumerism, Sustainability and Design - Softcover

Crocker, Robert

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1783534915 ISBN 13: 9781783534913

Publisher: Routledge, 2016

Synopsis

Consumerism involves a unique way of thinking that promises a shortcut to a "better" life, obtained through a continuous process of accumulating certain fashionable goods and services. Over the last few decades, this has resulted in a rising tide of cheap, short-lived goods produced, used and discarded in increasingly rapid cycles, along the way depleting resources and degrading environmental systems. Somebody Else's Problem calls for a radical change in how we think about our material world, and how we design, make and use the products and services we need. Rejecting the idea that individuals alone are responsible for the environmental problems we face, it challenges us to look again at the systems we take for granted in daily life, and their cumulative role in our environmental crisis. The author presents an overview of the main forces giving rise to modern consumerism, looks closely at today's accelerating consumption patterns and asks why older, more custodial patterns of consumption are in decline. The author concludes with a recommendation of new ways of designing, making and using goods and services that can reduce our excess consumption, but still contribute to a good and meaningful life.

About this title

Review

Robert Crocker has written a stunning and provocative book one of the best books on design, consumption and waste I have read in recent years. The reader is rewarded with a convincing argument, thoughtful observations and valuable reflections on human behavior. He shows convincingly that neither technological innovation alone, nor the operation of the market, can fix our environmental crisis unless we face the larger problem of consumerism. Bravo! --Maria Cecilia Loschiavo dos Santos, Professor of Design, School of Architecture and Urbanism, University of São Paulo, Brazil

Somebody Else s Problem is a timely and provocative critique of the "inherently escalatory" nature of contemporary consumerism. Robert Crocker argues persuasively that the failure of consumerism to deliver its promise of a good life is rooted in the lack of an "end point" at which consumers feel that they acquired enough. This suggests a moral dilemma and yet, far from pointing a critical finger at consumers, the author recognises that the problem is "collective, social and global" and should lead to reflection upon how the world around us has been designed. He thus exposes the profound responsibility of the designer to contribute to the reshaping of societal values and goals. --Tim Cooper, Professor of Sustainable Design and Consumption, Nottingham Trent University

Robert Crocker's new book confronts consumerism head-on and tackles the difficult questions elegantly and convincingly. His arguments and insights are informed and contribute to a deeper understanding of how design, sustainability and marketing inter-relate to create some of the most complex challenges the world is currently facing. The book is particularly valuable for addressing the historical dimensions of our current crisis, and framing the big imperatives for design in relation to sustainability and consumption. Somebody Else's Problem is a must-read text for students and educators of all disciplines ... including design, marketing, environment and business. This landmark publication highlights where we must intervene in order to achieve a sustainable future, and as a result is solution-oriented. Robert Crocker has made a significant contribution to the critical debate on production and consumption. A very timely addition towards solving one of the planet's most pressing imperatives. --John Gertsakis, Vice President, Global Product Stewardship Council

About the Author

ROBERT CROCKER is Acting Director of the Zero Waste SA Research Centre for Sustainable Design and Behaviour at the University of South Australia.

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1783534915
• ISBN 13: 9781783534913
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 236