Design is not a beauty contest. Design has become a generalised term appropriated by the arts, crafts and anything that concerns aesthetics. This generalisation and its consequential misunderstanding have caused a definitional fusion of design and styling. Styling is an integral part of the design process – but it’s just that: a part of the process. Increased functionality and responsibility to the population elevates design above the dominance of styling and the arts and crafts.

There is beauty in fulfilling a basic function while benefiting a humanitarian or environmental cause. We use a project’s primary occupation as a starting point for the design process while sustainability, usability and interaction considerations govern every stage of development. The process is what determines styling and is often simply a product of the fulfillment of function. It is through function and depth of outcome that design will progress and transcend its unsustainable commercial foundations.

Sustainable and responsible design

Sustainability is an idea encompassing a number of factors that, when pulled together, we can use as an indicator of the total impact of a product or service. Real world environmental, social, human and economic issues contribute to an understanding of sustainability. Two things are needed to effect any noticeable change in this area: a holistic and responsible view of all relative factors and a realistic perception of balance. Balance between benefit and detriment is especially important considering that mainstream production never has a positive environmental impact.

Every decision made with good environmental intentions is likely to require a trade-off with inevitable negatives. It’s simply reality: nothing is black and white, and those who deal in absolutes without reference to compromise should be regarded with suspicion. A solid understanding of the factors relevant to sustainability is the best basis for sustainable philosophy, and if the factors are treated responsibly then a natural balance will result.

It’s impractical to ask consumers and clients to understand the myriad of constantly evolving issues and complexities of sustainability. It is similarly difficult to communicate a sustainable philosophy in just a few paragraphs. So, through production of responsible design with constant consideration of environmental, social, human and economic factors, Spore aims to provide an honest and reliable avenue for sustainable design and production. Through-out this website there are environmental sustainability indicators for each item. More specific information is available on request.

Indicative examples of Spore's sustainable practices include:

+ material and process minimisation which can exponentially decrease the embodied energy and resources in a product;
+ in-house generation of materials by reclaiming, milling and air drying naturally fallen hardwood logs from naturally regenerating bush;
+ low-toxic finishes like water based clear finishes for timber and low emission treatments for colours are preferred;
+ frame and cladding structure mimic housing structures as an efficient timber based construction technique. This reduces material usage, weight and transport energy.

Spore supports certifications like FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) when possible to reinforce of our practical sustainable design based strategies. Such certified timber is sourced from responsibly managed forests - not clear-cut rainforests in Indonesia. However, the seemingly definite certification process is not immune from compromise and problems; regulators need specific criteria to make their certificates enforceable and operative.

A lot of sustainable philosophy and practice does not yet have concrete evidence supporting it and is therefore not suitable for the certification processes. The more specific these certification processes need to be, the less effective they are in accounting for the entire spectrum of environmental and human impact. As yet, there is no certification process addressing established sustainable design principles (like material minimisation) operational in Australia. This does not mean that environmental certification is not useful in communicating a solution to a specific problem, but consumers should be wary of groups that offer just a certificate or simplistic solution to a complicated issue.