4
U. Edilson
1.1.1 Industrial Design and Sustainability
During sixty year’s history of industrial design field in Japan, the promotion of environmental concern and ecology in design field was focused initially on the activities
related to the design competitions. Only in the early 90 s through the symposiums and
seminars, the terms like ecodesign, green design, design for environment and more
recently sustainable design came to be considered in the design academic fields
(Japan Design Foundation 1989; Green Designing in Yamagata 1992; Ecodesign
1999).
The term ecological design in the Dictionary of Today’s Design (Katsui et al.
1992) was introduced in the year 1992, after many ecological design events like: the
second and third International Design Competition Osaka (IDCO) with the themes
water and fire. IDCO was a biannual international design competitions that covered
all areas of design and served to redefine the role played by design while presenting a
concrete vision of better future for manking (Japan Design Foundation (JDF) 1987,
1989).
1.2 The Objective of Research
This research explores the sustainability aspects of design concepts related to the
theme of the element of nature water and fire, submitted by industrial designers
from around the world to the respected International Design Competition, Osaka
(IDCO), which is supported by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and
Industry (METI). These design concepts are studied and compared.
The Japan Design Foundation (JDF) coordinated this unique and original theme
of water and fire (Japan Design Foundation (JDF) 1987, 1989). Analysis of these
design concepts offers a point of study and understanding for the relationship between
the theme of water and fire and their respective design categories and ecodesign
strategies, as well as their social, cultural and environmental dimensions.
1.2.1 Justification of Choice Water and Fire Themes
The choice to examine design concepts of the water and fire themes from the IDCO
are justified because these themes were a unique and original reference for the global
history of design. Their importance are recognized in international dictionaries of
design (the Oxford Dictionary of Modern Design (Woodham 2006) and Japanese
Dictionary of Today’s Design (Katsui et al. 1992)).
The global history of industrial design has no similar event or activity. Its original
“Design for Every Being” concept, its international scale, the number of participating
designers from around the world, and its historical importance to the Japanese design
U. Edilson
1.1.1 Industrial Design and Sustainability
During sixty year’s history of industrial design field in Japan, the promotion of environmental concern and ecology in design field was focused initially on the activities
related to the design competitions. Only in the early 90 s through the symposiums and
seminars, the terms like ecodesign, green design, design for environment and more
recently sustainable design came to be considered in the design academic fields
(Japan Design Foundation 1989; Green Designing in Yamagata 1992; Ecodesign
1999).
The term ecological design in the Dictionary of Today’s Design (Katsui et al.
1992) was introduced in the year 1992, after many ecological design events like: the
second and third International Design Competition Osaka (IDCO) with the themes
water and fire. IDCO was a biannual international design competitions that covered
all areas of design and served to redefine the role played by design while presenting a
concrete vision of better future for manking (Japan Design Foundation (JDF) 1987,
1989).
1.2 The Objective of Research
This research explores the sustainability aspects of design concepts related to the
theme of the element of nature water and fire, submitted by industrial designers
from around the world to the respected International Design Competition, Osaka
(IDCO), which is supported by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and
Industry (METI). These design concepts are studied and compared.
The Japan Design Foundation (JDF) coordinated this unique and original theme
of water and fire (Japan Design Foundation (JDF) 1987, 1989). Analysis of these
design concepts offers a point of study and understanding for the relationship between
the theme of water and fire and their respective design categories and ecodesign
strategies, as well as their social, cultural and environmental dimensions.
1.2.1 Justification of Choice Water and Fire Themes
The choice to examine design concepts of the water and fire themes from the IDCO
are justified because these themes were a unique and original reference for the global
history of design. Their importance are recognized in international dictionaries of
design (the Oxford Dictionary of Modern Design (Woodham 2006) and Japanese
Dictionary of Today’s Design (Katsui et al. 1992)).
The global history of industrial design has no similar event or activity. Its original
“Design for Every Being” concept, its international scale, the number of participating
designers from around the world, and its historical importance to the Japanese design