Interviews
Sustainability – Theme of 'Design of Prosperity' conference
20 Aug '09
5 min read
Since humanity decided to stick to its business-as-usual growth path, global energy demand rose by 45%, the price of oil reached US $200 per barrel, greenhouse gas emissions increased by 45%, leading to an increase in the global average temperature up to 6°C.
The world economy sustained losses equivalent to 5-10 percent of global GDP and poor countries suffered costs in excess of 10 percent of GDP. Ecological degradation and water scarcity dramatically increased and while three billion people started living on less than $2 a day in 2015, in 2030 over one billion people are living on less than US $1 a day.
The above is not the apocalyptic scenario of a science fiction movie. This is the forecasting of the United Nations Environment Program published in February 2009 of a situation the world could face in 2030. The planet is seriously overloaded by the environmental impact of our industrial economies and consumerist life-styles.
We are well aware that we are producing and consuming far in excess of what the planet can sustain and because the textile industry led the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century the textile industry is therefore uniquely positioned to become one of the serious change drivers of the Sustainability Revolution.
To cause and boost the design of change toward becoming an engine of leadership, we decided to devote the theme of “The Design of Prosperity Conference” in 2009 as “The Sustainability of Our Present Future”, which will be held on November 2, 2009.
The theme, “The Sustainability of Our Present Future” is part of the wider “The Design of Prosperity” initiative of the University of Boras and The Swedish School of Textiles in partnership with Realise Strategic Consultants.
Simonetta Carbonaro, professor of Design Management and Humanistic Marketing and Dr Christian Votava, owner of REALISE Strategic Consultants, are the project leaders of a series of initiatives branded The Design of Prosperity (TDP).
TDP was initiated by Proffesor Carbonaro, a renowned consumer psychologist and Dr Votava, a reputated international business consultant as a cooperation with The Swedish School of Textiles and the University of Borås in 2006.
Since then they have been conceiving and organizing TDP conferences, summits, round table and workshops for the creation of an international Centre of Excellence devoted to the design of new models of prosperity.
This year TDP initiative express itself trough a new conference entitled ”The Sustainability of Our Present Future” at The University of Borås, Sweden on November 2. On November 3 an invitational only workshop will dig the topics of the previous TDP conference-day with selected companies' delegates and master students at The Swedish School of Textiles.
The Design of Prosperity initiative aims to be a lighthouse for all agents taking part in the construction of a new understanding of prosperity, especially in times of radical change, our initiatives offer a gamut of new knowledge platforms that give completely new points of orientation for decision makers in business, politics and culture.
Above all, The Design of Prosperity project sees itself as a platform for the creation of University of Boras Centre of Excellence devoted to multi-dimensional and trans-discipline knowledge exchange for the purpose of understanding the ethical, aesthetical, ecological, technological, economic, and social challenges of our global societies, and to discuss and work toward resolving those challenges with top-class Swedish and international leaders, experts and innovative thinkers.
The Design of Prosperity project also sees itself as an innovative workshop for action-oriented educational and social innovation strategies, and for the development of new cultural, economic and entrepreneurial approaches that will bring new meaning and vitality to our over-saturated consumer markets.
The Design of Prosperity is ultimately a think tank where new ideas, models and methods are checked, theoretically confirmed, consolidated and taught in seminars to both our students and companies' associates.
The world economy sustained losses equivalent to 5-10 percent of global GDP and poor countries suffered costs in excess of 10 percent of GDP. Ecological degradation and water scarcity dramatically increased and while three billion people started living on less than $2 a day in 2015, in 2030 over one billion people are living on less than US $1 a day.
The above is not the apocalyptic scenario of a science fiction movie. This is the forecasting of the United Nations Environment Program published in February 2009 of a situation the world could face in 2030. The planet is seriously overloaded by the environmental impact of our industrial economies and consumerist life-styles.
We are well aware that we are producing and consuming far in excess of what the planet can sustain and because the textile industry led the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century the textile industry is therefore uniquely positioned to become one of the serious change drivers of the Sustainability Revolution.
To cause and boost the design of change toward becoming an engine of leadership, we decided to devote the theme of “The Design of Prosperity Conference” in 2009 as “The Sustainability of Our Present Future”, which will be held on November 2, 2009.
The theme, “The Sustainability of Our Present Future” is part of the wider “The Design of Prosperity” initiative of the University of Boras and The Swedish School of Textiles in partnership with Realise Strategic Consultants.
Simonetta Carbonaro, professor of Design Management and Humanistic Marketing and Dr Christian Votava, owner of REALISE Strategic Consultants, are the project leaders of a series of initiatives branded The Design of Prosperity (TDP).
TDP was initiated by Proffesor Carbonaro, a renowned consumer psychologist and Dr Votava, a reputated international business consultant as a cooperation with The Swedish School of Textiles and the University of Borås in 2006.
Since then they have been conceiving and organizing TDP conferences, summits, round table and workshops for the creation of an international Centre of Excellence devoted to the design of new models of prosperity.
This year TDP initiative express itself trough a new conference entitled ”The Sustainability of Our Present Future” at The University of Borås, Sweden on November 2. On November 3 an invitational only workshop will dig the topics of the previous TDP conference-day with selected companies' delegates and master students at The Swedish School of Textiles.
The Design of Prosperity initiative aims to be a lighthouse for all agents taking part in the construction of a new understanding of prosperity, especially in times of radical change, our initiatives offer a gamut of new knowledge platforms that give completely new points of orientation for decision makers in business, politics and culture.
Above all, The Design of Prosperity project sees itself as a platform for the creation of University of Boras Centre of Excellence devoted to multi-dimensional and trans-discipline knowledge exchange for the purpose of understanding the ethical, aesthetical, ecological, technological, economic, and social challenges of our global societies, and to discuss and work toward resolving those challenges with top-class Swedish and international leaders, experts and innovative thinkers.
The Design of Prosperity project also sees itself as an innovative workshop for action-oriented educational and social innovation strategies, and for the development of new cultural, economic and entrepreneurial approaches that will bring new meaning and vitality to our over-saturated consumer markets.
The Design of Prosperity is ultimately a think tank where new ideas, models and methods are checked, theoretically confirmed, consolidated and taught in seminars to both our students and companies' associates.
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