TED Talk: William McDonough

Madison Powers
APES
January 23, 2012

William McDonough and "Cradle to Cradle" Design

1) William McDonough states: “The fundamental issue is that, for me, design is the first signal of human intentions.” Do you share McDonough’s viewpoint? Explain and use an example of a design that supports your position.

I agree with McDonough's viewpoint that it is an issue that signals human intentions. Humans design things based on their needs and wants. Most of the time they are designed without the consequences in mind, because their wants outweigh the negatives. Take for example many of the large dams around the world or buildings in countries like Dubai. People's goals with the design is to do nothing other than to make it the biggest, and most expensive they possible can. All sorts of money was used to turn the deserts of Dubai into a city home to massive shopping malls and the world's tallest building. Clearly money wasn't in mind when the biggest building spree ever was brought to a halt and debt started to grow. Human intention with Dubai and dams like the 3 Gorges in China isn't how it is going to impact the environment and people involved, but to see how large of a product they can make. These projects are just a few examples of many that show design shows human intentions.

2) McDonough states: what we realize today is that modern culture appears to have adopted a strategy of tragedy. If we come here and say, "Well, I didn't intend to cause global warming on the way here," and we say, "That's not part of my plan," then we realize it's part of our de facto plan. Because it's the thing that's happening because we have no other plan.
 Do you agree with McDonough that we have a “strategy of tragedy” that is shaping the human condition? Why or Why not?

I do not agree with McDonough and don't believe that people today have a plan for tragedy. I feel that many people are completely oblivious to the tragedy that lies ahead of the world, and there is only a small portion of the modern culture that has started to adopt a "strategy for tragedy" while the rest are continuing on as they have planned. I do agree with the idea that "I didn't intend to cause global warming on my way here",  as I feel that it applies to a large portion of society. People are greedy and will do whatever they can for power and money, even if it means causing harm to the globe. People will always be power hungry and therefore they will do what is in their best interests so that they can succeed, regardless of the damage they cause. I do feel that the population with a plan for tragedy is increasing though, as awareness for this tragedy grows. More and more people are being informed about pollution, damaging the environment, limited resources, etc. The more people that know about these things, the better, for then the modern culture can form a "strategy for tragedy" as a whole, and many people will try to avoid this tragedy. I do feel that this point will come too late though, because at our current rate, I believe that we will hit this tragedy before people can figure out what to do about it.

3) McDonough believes that design determines our interactions with nature and how we value it. Is there evidence to support that view? Or does McDonough have it backwards, that nature actually shapes the way we design?

I believe that McDonough has it backwards, and that nature shapes the way we design. Many new buildings and products are being built with nature in mind, such as the cities he mentions in his speech. They are basically raising the natural land up a level, and using and eco-friendly cycle to maintain nature, without disturbing it too much. I feel that now that we must be more careful about our resources, pollution, and the earth's health, we are designing with nature in mind more than we used to. We are returning to the natural processes of the earth that promote its health instead of the often destructive ways of humans. Cars are now designed with nature in mind, same with plastics, buildings, etc. Nature seems to shape almost everything that is designed if the designers care about the earth's health even a tiny bit. They realize that they must design to protect and promote nature, instead of destroy it as they have in the past. McDonough's work is an example of this idea, for his work in cities and for major companies seems to be shaped by nature.

4) Explain what cradle to cradle design is. Describe and use an example of what the two metabolisms are and what they do.

Cradle to cradle design is design with the goal of "a delightfully diverse, safe, healthy and just world, with clean air, clean water, soil and power -- economically, equitably, ecologically and elegantly enjoyed, period." It is basically design with nature kept in mind, as to preserve it and help it continue to grow so we can have a healthy and safe world. Also in this design, everything is cycled, so that nothing is ever wasted, and these cycles can last forever. There are two metabolisms in cradle to cradle design. The first metabolism is the biological metabolism. The biological metabolism is the way that the nutrients of earth (water, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide) go through cycles so that they can be returned to nature safely. An example of a biological metabolism would be a biodegradable plastic, such as Nike's shoe soles. The plastic contains the biological nutrients, but they have been altered. The plastic can degrade back into the biological system and return to its original state, making it safe and healthy. The other metabolism is the technical metabolism. This is a closed loop system. Resources are circulated through an endless cycle of production, with as little waste as possible. The products are made with reuse in mind, they are broken down when their use is done, and then the resources are recycled and made into something new. An example of this would be Shaw Carpet. They have made a carpet that can be indefinitely reused. The nylon in it is broken down where it is then made back into carpets. Overall cradle to cradle design seems to be an excellent plan for the future if we plan to preserve the health and safety of the globe.