ABSTRACT
As outlined in this Introduction, this edited collection provides a grounded and pragmatic exploration of the connections between design and the transition towards a decarbonised future. We emphasise the significance of material knowledge, practical skill, care and repair practices in the context of a precarious, rapidly changing planet. This requires venturing beyond design’s usual professional and disciplinary boundaries towards a more inclusive understanding of design, encompassing craft, repair, non-professional design and community participation. This inclusive perspective sharpens the focus on the diverse types of labour and skills required for a more regenerative and resilient world.
The chapter situates our collection within existing design debates, drawing on calls for design to engage more actively with the politics of transition. It also outlines the book’s structure and distinctive contributions, which explore craft skills for contemporary challenges, reimagining design education through repair, strategies for sustainability, survival and repair in Cuba, Spain and Indonesia, and restoring design’s ethical role in global supply chains. Additional topics include action-research strategies for urban cooling, generative uses for biomaterials, informal craft solidarity, design’s role in disability care labour and the conservation practices of stonemasonry under extreme climate conditions.
