ABSTRACT
A broad movement of 'slow activists' is beginning to contest the notion of continuous production and consumption and its inherent, unsustainable, economic growth. This movement is finding diverse expressions and, within it, design is finding a new voice, 'slow design'. This chapter examines the emerging canvas of slow design activities, especially those created and curated by slowLab, to explore how design can deliver improved well-being. It shows examples of slow design aimed at slowing the metabolisms inherent in product:user relationships in order to generate improved relationships and experiences for the user while helping to create positive social, environmental and economic change. It suggests that slow design and co-design (participatory design processes) offer fresh approaches for revitalizing our thinking about product life-spans and novel ways of designing, making and producing. These design approaches offer the design community a new, more active, voice that could encourage new visions of enterprise and improved human flourishing.
