design4ecology
Course Developed at Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Module description.
This module had a broad emphasis on learning how to practice design that is sustainable in the long term. It offered design students an opportunity to engage with real-world challenges and to use Biomimicry as a lens to propose alternative solutions within the particular context of Swellendam in the Western Cape, South Africa. From the feedback gained during this module, students found it to be a highly inspirational experience that challenged them not only as young designers, but as human beings too. They commented on how the module created a space where they learnt new things about themselves and their ability to respond to a wide variety of challenges while considering multiple stakeholders in both the formal and informal sectors of Swellendam. Encounters with new experiences, sights, sounds and smells, enabled students to discover that, becoming a sustainable designer is about understanding yourself as part of a wider ecology of actors, human and non-human.
The module mapped characteristics of natural ecologies onto sociocultural systems and oriented design as a key part of the interplay between environmental, social, cultural and economic factors. It challenged anthropocentrism in the design of sustainable futures and sought alternative ways in which design can transition away from purely material, consumerist culture towards creating wellbeing for all living beings. In this, the module title Design + Ecology, drew attention to the dynamic relation between design and ecology. The roots of the word ecology, ecos meaning planet Earth/home, and logos meaning knowledge of, begs the question in today’s turbulent times; how do we, as designers, build a more respectful knowledge of our Earth home?
The outcomes of the module are a set of design proposals and concepts produced by design teams that can be used to raise awareness within targeted sectors in Swellendam. These proposals focused on how to manage organic waste within their operations, and to prevent this waste from ending up in the municipal landfill. Students visited and interviewed stakeholders in the following sectors:
Community Action Partnership https://www.capnpc.co.za/
Swellendam Hospital https://www.westerncape.gov.za/facility/swellendam-hospital-0
Southern Oil SOILL https://www.soill.co.za/
VRT PITT Primary School https://www.vrtpitt.org.za/
Grace+Merci Restaurant https://www.facebook.com/graceandmerci/
Who attended and who was involved?
Development of the module took place at CPUT where a number of staff members and a biomimicry project coordinator designed the programme. Originally planned as a trans-disciplinary module, it was re-visioned around a communication design challenge, involving 4th year visual communication design students. The immersion was designed to enable students to work in an unknown context, using a new design lens, to collaborate in teams and to engage with members of the local community in a process of discovering sustainable design opportunities. Students were offered highly contextual expertise and engagement by guest speakers at the host venue and on various sites of interest. This expertise was provided by the Swellendam municipality Solid Waste and Environment Manager (Johan Van Niekerk), Environment Operations Manager (Dwayne Brecht), a local Landscape and Community Garden founder (Andrew Mclachlan), and other location hosts. One CPUT staff member (Bruce Snaddon) and a certified Biomimicry educator (Andrea Broom) facilitated the week’s immersion aimed at building knowledge of the place and its social dynamics before any design work was done.
When was it run and what were the activities?
The module was offered in 2021 from 14th – 26th November. As preparation, two afternoon sessions were run online before the immersion week in Swellendam to provide background to the module and to facilitate logistics around travel and accommodation.
This first week (14 – 20th Nov) was a highly immersive experience that took students right into the unique context of Swellendam. Students learnt how to observe and listen carefully to the needs of the community with regard to the systemic challenges of sustainability, and organic waste management. Using biomimicry as a lens and methodology students were shown how to develop a wider set of questions around how waste is managed in natural systems, and how to learn from the R&D that is evident in natures evolutionary process. Natural champions were identified to inspire design proposals that drew on key principles evident in how certain species have evolved to learn, organize, communicate and
manage waste.
A videographer (Troy Davies of Retrospective) was commissioned to produce a video documentary that will be utilized for academic research and reporting purposes to communicate the outcome of the D+E module. Project coordinator and biomimicry facilitator Andrea Broom has worked closely as creative director with Troy in the production of this output. It showcases the experience of students and staff during this module and how, within a very short time, students were able to use the methodology and language of biomimicry as a means to practice design in a more expansive and ecologically aware manner. The video documentary serves as a visual method of recording the learning and reflection that transpired during the immersion week in Swellendam. Students and staff interviews were conducted during this time to provide a running commentary on how the module impacted on design students’ awareness and will be used within various research outcomes connected to this module.
We are Earth documentary video showing Cape Peninsula University of Technology students and staff conducting a design and sustainability immersive learning experience in Swellendam, South Africa.
We are Earth documentary with Chinese subtitles
During the second week back in Cape Town (22nd – 26rd November 2021) design proposals were developed to meet the challenges identified in several sectors, and these have been used in reporting back to the Swellendam municipality. See the short student proposals here:
Grace + Merci Restaurant Proposal by Eli Samba and Nur Leonard
CAP Waste Proposal by Nerissa Pather and Philasande Hlangu
Swellendam Hospital Proposal Nabeelah Charles and Ridhaa Kuys
SOILL Proposal by Tyrone Borman, Adam Bowers and Reece Manuel
VRT Pitt Primary School Porposal by Shaun Jefthas and Imra Toefy