DesignShift Practice Session: From Consumption to Contentment
In October, we hosted our first DesignShifts Practice Session. This is an opportunity to move from theory to practice and explore some of the Shifts in community. In the session, we explored how we can move from consumption to contentment.
Session overview
What would it look like to move design from a tool that supports and encourages consumption to a practice that centers contentment? Our endless focus on MORE creates a world where we feel “less than". Less happy with the work we’re doing. Less satisfied with what we already own. Less popular than those who flaunt their wealth. It’s all by design.
This is what we discussed during a 1.5 hour long co-creation session in October. We explored how we might Shift our perspectives, practices, and the purpose of design away from consumption and towards a world of contentment.
What role does design play in our endless consumption? How is design playing on our subconscious desires? What if design can help us learn our triggers, see things more clearly, and maybe even make us feel more satisfied with what we already have?
What, how and what if... These were some of the questions and provocations we’ll be co-creating around.
What we did:
Discussed the current problem of design and overconsumption
Entered a collective dream space and envision a better tomorrow
Explored the necessary Shift in mindset and practice that will lead us to that better tomorrow
We explored thinking about, being with, and shaping the Shift as a collective force.
For this session, DesignShifts partnered with Anna Rátkai.
She is a a UX Researcher designing for a better tomorrow. Anna is also the creator of Kind Commerce. Kind Commerce is a concept that encourages and helps designers to build sustainable shopping experiences (primarily online). Learn more: https://www.bekindcommerce.com/
Session Recap:
The problem with overconsumption
Through small group discussions, we talked about the problems we face today around the topic of overconsumption. Here are a few things that emerged:
Shopping and selling “green” is inaccessible and expensive: Shopping and producing products often means higher cost/price and less convenience. There are few incentives -- both for producers and consumers.
Our world and businesses are built on extraction and driven by profit: The world is built on extraction and companies are driven by profit-centered business models. These models make companies implement tactics that make people buy things they do not need. Sell more tactics align with profit driven business models
Tech and trends tactics drive overconsumption: Viral trends, fast fashion and hidden marketing tactics create an environment of consumption. People are tricked to buy things they don’t really need.
Our culture values wealth and fame. People buy to fit in: People are driven to buy more in order to fit in. Our media perpetuates stories of wealth being about money and belongings (rather than health or connection to community or nature)
We lack real connections — consumption serves as short-term comfort: People lack real connections. However, in today’s society, we lack ways to connect deeply with people. They try to fill this void through shopping. Quick hits of dopamine give us a boost in the moment but leave us empty in the long-run.
There is a lack of awareness around the real impact of overconsumption: Most people know that overconsumption is bad. However, there is a lack of awareness around the real impact of our shopping and selling decisions. We are running our of resources but we don’t seem to realize.
Shifting together
Imagine….a world where these problems did not exist. A world where we had enough and we felt like enough. What would it look like and feel like? How do we Shift from the current problem to the imagined future? Here are some of the themes that started to emerge:
Shifting the system: Policy influences action.
Regulation and policy plays a big role in shaping behaviors. By redesigning regulations, we can create better incentives for businesses and consumers.
Shifting to nature: Nature often has the answers we’re looking for.
Our external environment influences our internal lives. Nature can provide us with the exact medicine we need. How might we design ways to be more with and in nature?
Shifting Culture: When we shift culture, we shift behaviors.
Today, a lot of our consumption is driven by our culture. It is cool to have a lot of “Stuff”. However, we know that consumption rarely fill the void we feel inside of ourselves. How might we reframe the meaning of success for individuals, communities, and the world at large?
Shifting models and measures: To shift design, we need new models for measurement.
What we measure determines what results we get. We need to find new models for measurement that values community, respect the earth, and breaks the cycle of over-consumption. How might we change what we measure in order to give more than we take?
Shifting narratives: Create spaces for conversation and truth.
We need to make overconsumption a central part of our everyday narratives. What if we used design to create spaces for real conversation? What if, instead of filters that hide our flaws, we made “realness” the new cool?
Shifting to less: What if design became about what is already there?
What we need is already inside of us and around us. We just need to learn to pay attention and listen. Instead of using design to “add or create something new” what if we used it as a tool to show the beauty of what’s already there? What if we could move from scarcity to abundance?
Shifting the spotlight: There is a lot of good work being done. How do we amplify good?
There are a lot of people doing great work out there. How might we make it easier to find, support and amplify their work?
No one knows it all. Together we know a lot. These are thought-starters on the path to a better tomorrow. Stay toned for another DesignShifts session soon.
During the session, a co-drawing emerged
