OMT_manifesto

The industrial revolution to present in capitalist countries have seen society ever more consumerist. With commodities becoming more available and mass-produced, industries began to design for planned obsolescence to maximise profits. “They don’t make them like they used to” is a common phrase said in our modern times.
Furthermore, since the industrial revolution, a boom in population can be observed. It was not until 1800s the first billion in population was reached, then in the next 200 years it has reached 7 times this amount with projected growth increasing. With urbanization increasing and many people migrating to cities to fuel the revolution. Although the population in the last 50 years increased by 50 percent, our resource consumption has increased by over 1000 percent. The common misconception that our large increase in resource consumption is solely due to the population growth. The most likely cause of this increase is unsustainable developments in the way we design and manufacture.
Capitalism has shaped our society to have a ravenous hunger for consumption of goods and trapped us in a cycle to desire the latest and greatest.

2. It is important to treat the source of the problem and not just the symptoms

Since the 60s we have become more aware of protecting our environment. People have been observed to boycott companies which do not support eco-conscious motifs and have preference to brands and companies which are shown to do sustainable acts.
Just making products biodegradable hasn’t helped due to the mass consumption – food and wood which are typically fast to biodegrade are not getting enough access to light and oxygen due to the vast amount of waste and are taking as long as 25 years in some cases to degrade. Much like with medicine, many western solutions are to treat the symptoms. For example, typically headaches are treated with painkillers, however over 50% of cases are due to a problem with the body being unable to detoxify.
Recycling in itself is not a solution – in many cases it also acts as a pass to be even more damaging people just consume recycled good at the same rate or more due to the perceived better morals of using recycled good.

3. Aesthetic is highly considered in capitalist countries, more emotionally durable design should be more considered

The appearance of buildings and products play an important role in the current mindset of the capitalist society. These aesthetic qualities are often considered to reflect the value of the entity. Once the new design is out, the appeal of the older version dwindles until it is thrown away and replaced – but this is often long before its degradation and loss of function. This is especially prevalent in the technology industry, with many items still working in the landfill sites.
Humans are instinctively programmed to desire sex, security, and social status. Brands are aware of this and capitalise on these desires. Neuromarketing has helped the manipulate purchase choices.
Society must change its ways in which value is placed on old objects/materials. With emphasis on sustainability over aesthetic. Instead of discarding, design must be more emotionally durable, people must build up a better connection with the product to wish to keep/maintain and upgrade.

4. Less developed countries are making effective uses of waste materials which the more developed countries could learn from

The effect of this mass demand and consumption has seen those at the edges of society adapting to use the waste it produces. With developing countries lacking the means to manage waste, it has become piled up significantly. Locals are collecting trash to make money; with most cases it is a means for survival. Moreover, a cliché example would be homeless people using cardboard to create a shelter. Further to lager scale, communities are making use of waste materials as their own vernacular design and lifestyle.
The value that those who manage and construct with waste hold to these materials is different to that of a consumer who simply sees the packaging as an inconvenient by-product of their latest gadget or replacing tyres as a necessary result of their transportation and consequently discard the large material as they see it expired for its purpose.
Vernacular design using waste which is in abundance could see better use of our materials with the consideration for production of materials too. Movements such as earth ships provide a sustainable solution for shelter using many of readily available waste materials such as tyres, bottles, and cans. Where waste is abundant and the means to develop new is less viable, people have made clever uses from the materials from construction to everyday objects. With the implementation of this for a developed country which is more capable to organising infrastructure and management solutions, better sustainability can be achieved.

5. Sustainable construction should be primary standard for good design, and aesthetic subsidiary – It is vital that natural resources are managed more efficiently

Good design must focus more on consideration to sustainability and the adaptation of waste materials. Society has become ever more conscious and proactive in being sustainable, but still is detached from waste in ways which less developed countries are.
Waste is often seen as undesirable, too much extent that the sight of waste is given negative connotation. Waste is placed in bags, hidden in bins, and collected out of sight. Maybe it can be managed in such a way in which it can be sorted into supply facilities for the intention of upcycling.
Addressing societal change in conceptions of waste and capitalise on its abundance for re-use and adaptation in construction as well as more conscious design for adaptation will benefit environment, and efficiency. Praise should be for clever usage of upcycling in design.
Furthermore, more demand for waste can translate to less demand for natural resources. Balancing our use of materials in favour of recycling to develop a more sustainable and convivial society.