The Core Values and Methodology of Cross-Cultural I-Sustainability Design Thinking

Abstract

In order to create sustainable products, this study presents the concept of I-sustainability design and its eight core values (flow, mindfulness, sustainability, aesthetics, ergonomics, health, quality, technology). At the beginning of the development of new products, linking product shape, product technical function and sustainable development, analyzing how to clear the product value of I-sustainability, how to excavate potential I-sustainability value of the product, and finally analyzing and evaluating the I-sustainability of the product value, so as to satisfy the customer demand and social sustainable development of the creative products. In order to maximize the I-sustainability value of products, designers can analyze the attributes of eight value opportunities that represent the I-Sustainability Design Thinking (ISDT) core values. By playing the role of the above attributes in product design, product design can achieve breakthrough progress, thus creating sustainable products. Combining the methods of science and design can help to develop more innovative, better integrated and truly transformational initiatives for sustainability. We suggest DT as a suitable approach to ensure that sustainability aspects are already taken into account in the initial phase of organizational innovation processes, i.e. when generating and evaluating SDGs ideas. Furthermore, ISDT provides a differentiated basis underpinning the assumptions of several researchers that a DT-based approach is an essential, yet often overlooked asset when addressing sustainability challenges.