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A narrowing of meaning: loss of narrative unity and the nature of design change

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

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A narrowing of meaning: loss of narrative unity and the nature of design change. / Walker, Stuart.
In: International Journal of Sustainable Design, Vol. 2, No. 4, 2014, p. 283-296.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

Harvard

Walker, S 2014, 'A narrowing of meaning: loss of narrative unity and the nature of design change', International Journal of Sustainable Design, vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 283-296. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJSDES.2014.071462

APA

Walker, S. (2014). A narrowing of meaning: loss of narrative unity and the nature of design change. International Journal of Sustainable Design, 2(4), 283-296. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJSDES.2014.071462

Vancouver

Walker S. A narrowing of meaning: loss of narrative unity and the nature of design change. International Journal of Sustainable Design. 2014;2(4):283-296. doi: 10.1504/IJSDES.2014.071462

Author

Walker, Stuart. / A narrowing of meaning : loss of narrative unity and the nature of design change. In: International Journal of Sustainable Design. 2014 ; Vol. 2, No. 4. pp. 283-296.

Bibtex

@article{4a56fc2fccf344dd83ec3a9b81c85b4c,
title = "A narrowing of meaning: loss of narrative unity and the nature of design change",
abstract = "This paper seeks to explore where design might best focus its efforts with respect to contemporary concerns about sustainability, particularly in view of the magnitude and nature of change required. The discussion traces the long entrenchment, over several centuries, of assumptions, conventions and outlooks that resulted in a shift in worldview from traditional to modern/late-modern. This shift is not only associated with unprecedented environmental damage, but also with a narrower perspective, a loss of narrative unity, and a loss of meaning. The argument is made that, by focusing on rationalistic, techno-scientific solutions design restricts its contribution to a variety of incremental changes that actually support the continuance of a fundamentally unsustainable system. Instead, design can widen its purview and be a catalyst for more substantive change by restoring a more balanced approach to products and processes in context; thereby contributing to a recovery of narrative unity and meaning.",
keywords = "unsustainable worldview, global-local, rational, intuitive, narrative unity, design change, sustainability, sustainable development, incremental changes, meaning",
author = "Stuart Walker",
year = "2014",
doi = "10.1504/IJSDES.2014.071462",
language = "English",
volume = "2",
pages = "283--296",
journal = "International Journal of Sustainable Design",
issn = "1743-8284",
publisher = "Inderscience",
number = "4",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - A narrowing of meaning

T2 - loss of narrative unity and the nature of design change

AU - Walker, Stuart

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - This paper seeks to explore where design might best focus its efforts with respect to contemporary concerns about sustainability, particularly in view of the magnitude and nature of change required. The discussion traces the long entrenchment, over several centuries, of assumptions, conventions and outlooks that resulted in a shift in worldview from traditional to modern/late-modern. This shift is not only associated with unprecedented environmental damage, but also with a narrower perspective, a loss of narrative unity, and a loss of meaning. The argument is made that, by focusing on rationalistic, techno-scientific solutions design restricts its contribution to a variety of incremental changes that actually support the continuance of a fundamentally unsustainable system. Instead, design can widen its purview and be a catalyst for more substantive change by restoring a more balanced approach to products and processes in context; thereby contributing to a recovery of narrative unity and meaning.

AB - This paper seeks to explore where design might best focus its efforts with respect to contemporary concerns about sustainability, particularly in view of the magnitude and nature of change required. The discussion traces the long entrenchment, over several centuries, of assumptions, conventions and outlooks that resulted in a shift in worldview from traditional to modern/late-modern. This shift is not only associated with unprecedented environmental damage, but also with a narrower perspective, a loss of narrative unity, and a loss of meaning. The argument is made that, by focusing on rationalistic, techno-scientific solutions design restricts its contribution to a variety of incremental changes that actually support the continuance of a fundamentally unsustainable system. Instead, design can widen its purview and be a catalyst for more substantive change by restoring a more balanced approach to products and processes in context; thereby contributing to a recovery of narrative unity and meaning.

KW - unsustainable worldview

KW - global-local

KW - rational

KW - intuitive

KW - narrative unity

KW - design change

KW - sustainability

KW - sustainable development

KW - incremental changes

KW - meaning

U2 - 10.1504/IJSDES.2014.071462

DO - 10.1504/IJSDES.2014.071462

M3 - Journal article

VL - 2

SP - 283

EP - 296

JO - International Journal of Sustainable Design

JF - International Journal of Sustainable Design

SN - 1743-8284

IS - 4

ER -