Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book discusses the theoretical, methodological, practical and pedagogical aspects of the role of design in the creation of sustainability. It focuses on three major themes: research traditions in the field of design, the conditions for creating human well-being and the significance of the historical legacy of modernism for cultural sustainability. The book also introduces the notions of distributed systems and cosmopolitan localism and the potential of design tools to connect and reinforce these notions. It outlines two major aspects of the environment on a greater scale: first, housing, and second, the outer environment and sense of place. The book describes the importance of lay and professional education for sustainability and addresses all stages and dimensions of education, from early childhood to adult and professional education. It deals with the relation between culture and products, from indigenous and local cultures to global cultures.