Evocative Interiors of Consumption

Yvonne Noack . Tamara Van Tuyl

INDS 706-01: Interior Design Theory & Criticism

Professor Sam Cribbs

Fall 2009

http://www.spike.com/video/over-hedge-humans/2728004

Introductory MovieOver the Hedge - Humans Live To Eat

What does Consumption mean to you?

Consumption is…

- The act or process of consuming

- Use by or exposure to a particulargroup or audience

- The utilization of economic goods in the satisfaction of wants or in the process of production resulting chiefly in their destruction, deterioration, or transformation

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Statistics“… The real issue is not consumption itself but its patterns and effects”.

Carbon Footprint AnalysisWhat is your Carbon Footprint?

What are your thoughts on your number?

What could you alter in your life?

Carbon Footprint AnalysisYvonne’s Results

Tamara’s Results

Statistics

…Inequalities in consumption are stark. Globally, the 20% of the world’s people in thehighest-income countries account for 86% of total private consumption expenditures -

the poorest 20% a minuscule 1.3%. More specifically, the richest fifth:

-Consume 45% of all meat and fish, the poorest fifth 5%-Consume 58% of total energy, the poorest fifth less than 4%-Have 74% of all telephone lines, the poorest fifth 1.5%-Consume 84% of all paper, the poorest fifth 1.1%-Own 87% of the world’s vehicle fleet, the poorest fifth less than 1%

ConsumerismIncreasing issue around consumerism:

-How are products and resources we consume actually produced?

-What are the impacts of that process of production on the environment, society, on individuals?

-What are the impacts of certain forms of consumption on the environment, on society, onindividuals?

-What is a necessity and what is a luxury?

-How do consumption habits change as societies change?

-How do material values influence our relationships with other people?

-What impact does that have on our personal values?

"IF YOU HAVE TO ASK HOW MUCH IT COSTS, YOU CAN'T AFFORD IT"  -anonymous

Conspicuous Theory“A Behavioral explanation for conspicuous consumption was provided by Thorstein

Veblen (1899) in his famous theory of “the leisure class”.

In his words, “In order to gain and hold the esteem of men, it is not sufficient merely topossess wealth or power. The wealth or power must be put in evidence, for esteem is

only rewarded on evidence.”

“Keeping up with the Jones’”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUeMVt3stAo

Informative MovieThe Story of Stuff - Consumption (2007)

Trends of Consumption

Trends in Consumption of Raw Materials:

- 1900-1995 within the USA

- 1970-1995 within the World

- 1995-Present- Addressing our future

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Material Flow Chart

Materials extracted from the Earth are necessary to produce our most

fundamental needs – food, clothing, and shelter. Materials are needed

to maintain and improve our standard of living. Understanding the

whole system of materials flow, from source to ultimate disposition,

can help us better manage the use of natural resources and protect the

environment.

Material Flow Chart

Material Flow- Food

Design and Planning - FoodUrban planning and socioeconomic factors affect food consumption:

• Planning more fast-food restaurants in inner-city areas.• Less access to supermarkets for healthier food alternatives:• Low average income and/or high population of renters 2 to 2.5x

more likely to have high access to fast-food.

Community zoning determining available food outlets:• Restaurants• Grocery stores• Specialty food (bakery, fishmonger, butcher, fresh produce)

Kitchen design affects eating habits:• Large, less-enclosed kitchen give visibility and easier access to food.• Storage of large quantities of food give access to more consumption.• Platescapes influence portions, which influence intake.

Design and Planning - Food

Designed environment’s affect on obesity and healthy living:•Urban planning and landscape regard neighborhood streetscapes, outdoor paths andlighting, and other natural effects to promote exercise and healthy lifestyle.•Clothing designers and use of technology with fibers to create comfortable clothing topromote physical activity.•Industrial designers’ creation of products to promote healthy living•Interior designers’ and architects’ design plans to encourage physical activity:

•Use of staircases for more physical activity when moving from one area to another•Placement of windows for visual access to the outdoors•Placement and convenience of doors to access the outdoors.•Creating aesthetically pleasing elements in these and other areas.

Material Flow - Manufactured Goods

founder Ray C. Anderson has started a revolution - their vision is“To be the first company that, by its deeds, shows the entire industrial world what

sustainability in all its dimensions: People, process, product, place and profits -By 202 - and in doing so we will become restorative through the power of influence.”

Interiors

Think about impact on environment through smart decisions of materials and finishes inhomes, offices, schools, hotels, restaurants, and all built environments.

- Appliances- Plumbing fixtures- Landscape- Waste centers

- Flooring- Fabrics- Wall treatment- Window Coverings

Interiors- Sustainability

Sustainability Gap: the gap between current theory and the application ofsustainable practices in design.

5 Phases of for development of a sustainable design practice:-Connection-Knowledge

-Process-Practice

-Commitment

MORE EFFORTS

PROMPTING PRO-EVIRONMENTAL BEHAVIORS

Design to make it easier:•Placement of signage: reminders to turn off lights; signs directing to recycling bins.•More bike lanes and bike racks to encourage alternative transportation.•Education and hands-on learning for children to understand effects of consumptionthrough better school design: outdoor learning environments for biology, ecology; use ofrain barrels for catching runoff; use of greywater to irrigate outdoor learning space…

MOTTAINAI: concept that promotes respect for resources.“A spirit of mottainai may contribute to a sense of shame in

wasting resources, in turn, creating a more positiveattitude towards frugality.

one.In terms of Consumption, what is something that you do that you feel guilty of?

Do you do this on a regular basis? Could you change your habit?

two.What is something that you are proud of doing?

Is it an easy or hard task for you to undertake?

Question to the Class

Real Success Stories

In 2000, San Francisco became the first major U.S. City to offer curbsiderecycling for food waste. The city will then turn the compostedwaste into animal feed, mulch and fertilizer.

Real Success Stories

Falls Church, Virginia was able to reduce its residential waste by 65%(25% through recycling and 40% through composting) in 1997.

The effort also proved to be cost-effective, as the city was able to reduceits solid waste management budget from $1.05 Million in 1990 to

$630,000 in 1997.

The city’s high percentage of waste diversion is primarily the result ofcommunity involvement in education programs.

Moving Forward

one.Any success stories that come to your mind?

two.What can be done to move forward?

three.Are there tasks that you will change in your everydaylifestyle? Why or why not?

Referenceshttp://www.nature.org/initiatives/climatechange/calculator/

http://css.snre.umich.edu/css_doc/CSS05-18.pdf

http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/fs-0068-98/fs-0068-98.pdf

http://www.globalissues.org/issue/235/consumption-and-consumerismwww.mba.vanderbilt.edu/vanderbilt/data/research/1020full.pdfwww.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/Nov5/Findings

Stieg, Cathy, 2006; The Sustainability Gap.  Journal of Interior Design (vol. 32, issue 1, p vii-xxi).

Interface, Ray C. Anderson:  www.interfaceglobal.com/sustainability/sustainability-in-action/biomimicry.aspx

Bech-Danielsen, Claus, and Gram-Hanssen, Kirsten 2004; The Features of Home Express Identity.InformeDesign (vol 21, issue 1, p. 17-26).

Ashdown, Susan. P., Cowett, F.D., Davies, Elizabeth H.S., Wells, Nancy M., and Yang, Yizhao, 2007;Obesity and the Designed Environment.  InformeDesign (vol. 39, issue 1, p. 6-33).

ReferencesSobal, Jeffrey, and Wansink, Brian, 2007; The Impact of the Environment on Eating Habits. InformeDesign(vol 39, issue 1, p. 124-142).

Hemphill, Eric; Raine, Kim; Spence, John C.; and Smoyer-Tomic, Karen E., 2008; Socioeconomic Factorsand Fast Food Access. InformeDesign (vol 22, issue 6, p 436-432).

Fujii, Satoshi, 2006; Understanding What Prompts Pro-Environmental Behaviors. InformeDesign (vol 26,issue 4, p. 262-268).

Sungbum, K., Oah, S., and Dickenson, A.M., 2005; Signage Improves Recycling in Public Places.InformeDesign (vol 37, issue 2, p. 258-274).

Brauchle, G., Evans, G.W., Haq, A., Shapiro, E., Stecker, R., Wong, K., 2007; Children's EnvironmentalValues. InformeDesign (vol 39, issue 5, p. 635-659).

Over the Hedge clip, "Humans Live to Eat": www.spike.com/video/over-the-hedge-humans/2728004.

Definition 'consumption': www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consumption.

one.In terms of Consumption, what is something that you do that you feel guilty of?

Do you do this on a regular basis? Could you change your habit?

two.What is something that you are proud of doing?

Is it an easy or hard task for you to undertake?

Evocative Interiors of ConsumptionPresentation on Monday, Nov. 9 by Yvonne Noack & Tamara Van Tuyl