ECOLOGY AND ETHICS IN DESIGN

AND ARCHITECTURE
COURSE CODE :3680
(MSc SUSTAINABLE ENV DESIGN)
 DESIGN FOR
SPIRITUALITY
UNIT 3
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3.1 THE FUNCTION OF BEAUTY
WHAT ARE THE MAIN MOTIVES BEHIND DESIGNING OR REDESIGNING OBJECTS; A PIECE OF
FURNITURE, EVERY DAY TOOL, COSMETICS, AN AEROPLANE ETC. MOST OF THE TIMES OBJECTS
ARE DESIGNED FOR:
-BEAUTY, ORNAMENTATION, AESTHETICS
-FUNCTION, UTILITY, PURPOSE
-SAFETY
-FUEL CONSUMPTION EFFICIENCY
-COMFORT
-FUNCTION AND BEAUTY
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DECORATION IS DEEPLY SATISFYING TO HUMAN BEINGS AND HAS BEEN THROUGH

OUT HISTORY OF MANKIND. IT FULFILLS THE AESTHETIC PART OF THE HUMAN
MIND BY RELIEVING THE MONOTONY OF THE PLAINNESS AND BY ADOPTING THE
EXTRANEOUS ‘BEAUTIFYING’.
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HOWEVER,

AS FAR THE BEAUTY IS CONCERNED IT MAY NOT ALWAYS BE UNIVERSAL AND MAY
BE CONTEXTUAL TO THE CULTURE, OR TO THE EYES OF THE BEHOLDER.

BEAUTY CERTIFICATION IS ALSO TEMPORAL IN SENSE AND THE AESTHETIC TASTES

MAY CHANGE WITH TIME.

UN-NECESSARY ORNAMENTATION OR DECORATION MAY BECOME A FAD JUST LIKE

THE CLEAN CUTS BECOME A TREND ON AND OFF. (EXAMPLES)
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A PASSENGER AEROPLANE DESIGN IS NOT ONLY “PURELY FUNCTIONAL” FOR
AERODYNAMIC CONSIDERATIONS BUT IT HAS TO MODIFIY THE DESIGN BASING ON
OTHER PURPOSES LIKE:
-SEATING CAPACITY
-LEG SPACE
-FUEL CAPACITY/EFFICIENCY
-CLASS SEPERATION
MOREOVER, THE FUNCTIONALITY IN REGARD TO SAFETY DICTATES THAT THE
PLANE SHOULD BE LIGHT IN WEIGHT BUT HEAVY ON STRENGTH.
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WHILE DESIGNING A FIGHTER JET THE FUNCTION CONSIDERATION CHANGES TO :

HIGH SPEED
CLOSE TURNING RATIO
MANOUVERABILITY

ACHIEVEMENT OF FUNCTION AND BEAUTY BOTH COULD BE THE MOTIVE BEHIND

A DESIGN. A DESIGN MAY BE AESTHETICALLY RESPONSIVE AND AT THE SAME TIME
MAY BE COMFORTABLE FULFILLING THE CRITERION OF UTILITY. (EXAMPLES)
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3.2 THE DESIGNER’S INTENT AND SPIRITUALITY
IS THE INTENT OF THE DESIGNER (OR THE INTENDED USE OF THE DESIGNED OBJECT) CAN YIELD
SPIRITUAL VALUES?
WE CAN FORGET THE CURRENT BIFURCATING TRENDS OF EARNING MORE MONEY(WHICH IS
ALWAYS THERE BEHIND ALL BUSINESS) OR EARNING PERSONAL SATISFACTION (WHICH MAY BE
ECCENTRIC SOMETIMES) THROUGH DESIGN PROFESSION.
TO FIND THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION LEADS US TO SOME OTHER VERY PERTINENT
QUESTIONS REGARDING SOCIETY AND ECOLOGY?
• WILL THE DESIGN AID THE SUSTAINABILITY OF ENVIRONMENT?
• CAN IT MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR MARGINALISED GROUPS IN SOCIETY?
• CAN IT EASE PAIN FOR SOME?
• CAN IT SAVE ENERGY?
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• CAN IT HELP TO TAP IN RENEWABLE ENERGY?
• CAN IT SAVE IRREPLACEABLE NATURAL RESOURCES?
• CAN IT HELP POOR AND DISENFRANCHISED OR SUFFERES?
• CAN IT TURNING LEFTOVER SCRAP INTO USEFUL THINGS?
• CAN IT GIVE PEOPLE THE ABILITY TO BE INDEPENDENT HENCE FEELINGS OF SELF-
ESTEEM ?
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POSITIVE ANSWERS TO SUCH QUESTIONS DO NOT MAKE THE DESIGN VISIBLY
SPIRITUAL BUT THE SERVICES PROVIDED TO PEOPLE AND PLANET’S ECOLOGY
THROUGH SUCH DESIGNS WILL HELP THE DESIGNERS:
• TO NOURISH THE SOUL
• TO GAIN INWARD BLISS
THIS IS WHERE THE SPIRITUAL VALUES ENTER IN DESIGN PROFESSION.

SOCIAL INTENT AND FEELINGS OF RESPOSIBILITY BY THE DESIGNER BRING

SPIRITUALITY IN DESIGN PROFESSION AND IT IS AN INNER JOURNEY OF JOY FOR
DESIGNERS.
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(EXAMPLES: ECOLOGICAL CONCERNED DESIGNS; HAWKING’S SPEECH OBJECTS; EYE

MAKE UP GLASSES FOR PEOPLE WITH PRESBYOPIA; REMINDING ALARMS TO SAVE
ENERGY IN DIFFERENT GADGETS)
ASK EXAMPLES FROM STUDENTS.
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3.3 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION OR DESIGNING FOR PEOPLE
THE JOB OF DESIGNER IS TO PROVIDE CHOICES FOR PEOPLE, ALLOWING PEOPLE TO
PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THEIR OWN LIFE DECISIONS, ENABLING THEM TO
COMMUNICATE WITH DESIGNERS AND ARCHITECTS IN FINDING SOLUTIONS TO
THEIR OWN PROBLEMS. EVERY DESIGNER MUST THINK TO INCLUDE
1. OLD PEOPLE
2. PREGNANT WOMEN
3. SMALL CHILDREN
4. LOW VISION PEOPLE
5. TRAVELLERS
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6. PEOPLE WITH LONG WORKING HOURS IN CHAIRS
7. DESIGN FOR ILLITERATE GROUPS

(CLASS DISCUSSION WITH EXAMPLES)

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THIS COMPLEX PROCESS OF INVOLVING DIFFERENT INTENDED GROUPS INVOLVES:
• DESIGNER’S OWN CONTRIBUTION
• DIRECT CONSULTATION WITH THE GROUPS IN QUESTION
• MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM WITH SPECIALIST FROM OTHER FIELDS
• READY TO TAKE HIGH RISK AND LOW RETURNS
• WORK WITH SMALL DECENTRALISED, INCENTIVE DRIVEN FACTORIES
• TO AIM FOR POSSIBLY INCLUSIVE DESIGNS RATHER THAN EXCLUSIVE
• BALANCE BETWEEN ADDED CONVENIENCE VERSUS ADDED HIGH COST
• LESS EMPHASIS ON ELITIST AND ALIENATING DESIGN VERSUS USER FRIENDLY
DESIGN (EXAMPLES)
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3.4 DESIGN ETHICS (INTERACTION BETWEEN DESING AND MORAL
VALUES)
ETHICS ARE THE PHILOSOPHICAL BASIS FOR MAKING CHOICES ABOUT MORALS
AND VALUES FOLLOWED. THEY PROVIDE DIRECTION WHEN DECISIONS ABOUT
ALTERNATIVE COURSE OF ACTION MUST BE MADE. VLAUES DO NOT HAVE TO BE
BASED ON TRUTH AS THEY STEM FROM BELIEFS, CONVICTIONS, CULTURE, SOCIAL
ENVIRONMENT.
MANY DECISIONS IN OUR EVERY DAY LIFE HAVE ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS OR MORAL
UNDERTONES. (EXAMPLES). THE QUESTION HERE IS:
DO THE DEIGNERS FOLLOW ETHICS AND VALUES WHILE CREATING BEAUTY AND
FUNCTION IN THEIR DESIGN?
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DESIGNERS ARE OFTEN A PART OF “PROFESSIONAL ETHICS” OR PROFESSIONAL

CODE OF CONDUCT. THESE CODES USUALLY PROTECT THE PROFESSIONAL
ORGANISATIONS OR ITS MEMBERS FROM PUBLIC SCRUTINY AND CRITICISM AND
OFTEN USED FOR SELF PROTECTION OF MEMBERS AND ORGANISATIONS. HOW
FAR THEY SERVE THE PUBLIC WHO USE THE PRODUCTS REMAINS TO BE SEEN.
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THESE CODE OF CONDUCTS CAN BE EVALUATED THROUGH THE FOLLOWING
QUESTIONS.
• IS THE CODE OF ETHICS SELF-SERVING?
• DOES THE CODE OF CONDUCT PROTECT THE PUBLIC?
• IS THE CODE REGULATIVE IN ITS PROPER SENSE?
• CAN THE NON-COMPLIANCE BE OBSERVED BY OTHERS/NON-MEMBERS?
• DOES IT ENSURE TRANSPERANCY?
• DOES IT DISCOURGE SECRET DEALS AND STONEWALLING?
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UNIT
• DOES THE CODE ALLOW TO ACCOMMODATE FOR ANTICIPATED FUTURE CHANGES
AND WILLINGNESS TO LEARN, TEACH, INFORM AND SHARE ON PART OF
DESIGNERS?
• DO THE ETHICS WITHIN THE CODE OF CONDUCT STRONG ENOUGH TO FACE THE
‘COVER YOUR BACK’ SYNDROME ?

(GIVE EXAMPLES AND INVITE EXAMPLES FOLLOWED BY DISCUSSION )

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HEIRARCHY OF VALUES BY MASLOW
IS IT POSSIBLE TO CONNECT BEAUTY AND FUNCTION
IN DESIGN TO ETHICS AND SPIRITUALITY? MOTIVATIONAL NEEDS MODEL
DIFFICULT TASK TO ACHIEVE KEEPING IN MIND
THE FISCAL, AESTHETICAL AND FUNCTIONAL
ASPECTS OF DESIGN BUT THINKING ABOUT THE
EVENTUAL CONSEQUENCES OF DESIGN
INTERVENTION MAY BECOME THE BASIS OF
SUCH INITIATIVES.
SOME EVEN APPEAL TO LOOK INTO THE 5TH
(AND 6TH TRANSCENDENCE) LEVEL OF
MASLOW’S MOTIVATIONAL NEED MODEL TO
LINK DESIGN CREATIVITY WITH ALTRUISM,
SPIRITUALITY, RELATING TO OTHERS---HUMAN,
OTHER SPECIES, NATURE AND COSMOS.
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IS IT POSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE THAT LEVEL?

(CLASS DISCUSSION )