Jonathan Chapman's perspective on the sustainability challenge is both innovative and inspiring. He asks the question "why do users discard products that still work?", this apparently simple question unleashes an in-depth exploration. Marked by a radical desire to avoid symptomatic approaches and delve deeper to understand our consumerist behaviours, their relationship to the impending ecological crisis, and how design and designers can promote healthier relationships with the man-made (designed) world.
Pointing out the emergence of a new landscape for sustainability, in which the durability of the relationships between users and products becomes central. Chapman successfully enriches the territory of sustainable design, pushing its boundaries, proposing this refreshing new viewpoint. It does not claim to be THE SOLUTION but rather to shed light on a new paradigm for sustainable design.
This book is a timely call to arms embarking the reader on an engaging journey. Clearly structured, adorned with insightful quotes and poignant analogies making it accesible to the larger audience. Don't be fooled by its size, this book is heavy impact and will stretch your pre-conceived notions. Kindly offered and the end of each chapter is a summary and an even more useful "toolkit of ideas": a glossary of new notions, perspectives and ideas relevant to the title and allowing the user to reflect and adopt the new language whilst adapting it to their specific practice.
I recommend this book to everyone involved or interested in the sustainability debate mainly because it is daring, and challenges design to change the way it approaches the world. I believe the author succeeds in juggling complex issues to deliver a very powerful argument with honesty, allowing the reader to visualize the issue from within, thus realising that change is possible.
In the last chapter Chapman imagines a vision of the future, questions the concept of "real world", brands capitalism obsolete, challenges our known sustainability practices, entices you to join the unresolved journey of sustainability and sustainable design, and calls for us to make of sustainability the window of change it can become. A very stimulating read!