Learning from traditional products and practices in India for design for sustainability

Changede, Sejal and Thomas, Lisa and Mullagh, Louise and Jacobs, Naomi (2025) Learning from traditional products and practices in India for design for sustainability. PhD thesis, Lancaster University.

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Abstract

This thesis explores the intersection of traditional Indian products and practices with contemporary sustainable design, aiming to identify what modern sustainability approaches can learn from these rich cultural traditions. Despite the increasing importance of sustainability in design, current frameworks often fall short in addressing the full spectrum of ecological, social, cultural, and personal dimensions. The literature review highlights that while there are numerous sustainability approaches available, they tend to emphasize technical and economic aspects, often neglecting deeper human values, cultural relevance, and spiritual values. This gap suggests a critical need for more holistic and inclusive sustainability models. The research question guiding this study is: "What can Design for Sustainability learn from traditional Indian products and practices?" This question seeks to uncover the sustainability principles embedded in traditional Indian crafts and everyday practices, and to understand how these principles can inform and enhance contemporary design strategies. By examining traditional methods that naturally incorporate sustainable resource management, resilience, and harmony with nature, this study aims to bridge the gap between traditional wisdom and modern design practices. Through a series of case studies and examples from various Indian contexts, a set of interviews with Indian design practitioners and practical design experimentation, the research investigates how traditional knowledge can be integrated into modern design processes to create more context-specific and culturally meaningful sustainable solutions. The main contributions of this thesis are: • A Holistic framework for designing meaningful sustainable contemporary products • Example of a contemporary products incorporating traditional insights • Adapted Quadruple Bottom Line (QBL) Ultimately, this thesis advocates for a more comprehensive approach to sustainable design that values and incorporates diverse cultural perspectives and traditional wisdom. By doing so, it contributes to the development of design practices that are not only ecologically sound but also socially equitable, culturally resonant, and personally meaningful. This holistic perspective is essential for achieving long-term sustainability that enhances human well-being and respects the planet's ecological limits.