I love design, no doubt. Design should not only be visually appealing, it should convey substance, course and purpose. Design means more than meets the eye; beyond aesthetics, design defines intention, plan and execution. I hate the fact that there are designs that had not engaged any intellectual thought processes; they are just there to fill and exploit the market, to make us feel like there is a void in our life that should be cared for. I hate the fact that this world is gladly cruising to a dead end.

Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against pure artistic design. But as the world enter a phrase of imminent environmental collapse, it is worrying that the people, us, do not feel an urgency to change the lifestyle that is leading us to our demise. We are, the frog in the pot. Perhaps blame is on the leaders or producers, but for certain is that these directors also react and adjust to the society and culture. Choice and consumption is eventually on the shoulders of the public, at the core of society.

If you share a similar passion for design and sustainability, or have general thoughts and responses, please leave a word or two, or get in contact, and let’s explore ideas, critiques and solutions, together.

1. Desk in Morning, echo4ngel, Flickr.

Design is an integral part of society. Impressions are no doubt important; first impression, often visual, determines your urge to learn and discover. It determines the fate of a potential relationship. Design leads impression by appeal, a form of visual pleasure and sensual desire. What our society is often neglecting is how design can also encourage change, especially changes in experience and lifestyle. Design can in fact lead trends and social consumption. It could and should encourage consumer knowledge, awareness and more importantly, be able to induce cognitive responses and promote intellectual decisions. This choice should be made by you, the consumers, and not producers, who often cloud desires and false contentment for revenue and market share.

The consumer culture is clouded with marketing strategies, false trends and conceptions that hope to exploit your urge to consume. The industry often neglects the need for design itself to solve what it confronts. Products thus, turn into a byproduct of deceit and fraud. Design needs to be a movement of effective and efficient solutions, form and function. This not only involves attending to domestic problems, it should recognize universal concerns, and issues that extend beyond its life cycle. This introduction hopes to convey this thought process in consumption, purchasing need not be an act of slavery. Don’t be fooled by false trends and corporate branding; don’t be blinded by deceit and destruction. Do what is right for your children; buy what is truthful to your needs.

Genesis marks the beginning of a consumer and design blog, hoping to encourage a sustainable, intellectual consumer and design culture in the near future. Lead by example.