In times of ecological and social upheaval, design has the potential to be a catalyst for a sustainable future. However, to realise its full power, significant changes in theory and practice are required. This book takes a unique approach, combining anthropological perspectives with philosophy and cognitive science, and argues for a fundamental transformation of the existing design curriculum. Drawing on an extensive literature from evolutionary science and design research, the book presents a blueprint for promoting more sustainable patterns of production and consumption. This blueprint is based on human virtues rather than vices and proposes a new curriculum tailored to pro-sociality and sustainability. Michael Leube draws on his extensive experience in the circular economy and offers practical examples, methods and tools for implementing sustainable approaches in the work of experienced designers.

The book showcases forward-looking innovations for prosocial and humanitarian design and ultimately argues that if we shift the goal of design from creating desires to creating value, we can solve many of the most pressing social problems, from citizen collaboration to sustainable cities. The book will be of interest to those who study and teach design and anthropology, as well as practising designers and engineers who want to learn how to design in a socially and ecologically conscious way.

Michael Leube, Ph.D., is a design anthropologist who works as a university professor, author and consultant. He is co-author of two books on the circular economy and author of numerous articles in professional journals. He specialises in design for social innovation and humanitarian design. His unique approach integrates anthropology, ethics and sustainability to create forward-thinking, resilience-focused design education. He has taught as a lecturer at renowned design and architecture schools across Europe and worked at design consultancies such as IDEO and Fjord. Most notably, he gave a TED talk entitled ‘Why designers should urgently listen to anthropologists’. Leube has been a professor of anthropology at IE University, the University of California, the University of Santa Clara, the London School of Economics, Syracuse University and Salzburg University of Applied Sciences.