Elvin - Post-petroleum design

Despite the growing demand for design strategies to reduce our petroleum use, no one has yet brought together the lessons of the worlds leading post-petroleum designers into a single resource. Post-Petroleum Design brings them together for the first time.

Readers will be introduced to the most current, innovative, plastic- and petroleum-free products and projects in industrial design, architecture, transportation, electronics, apparel and more. Post-Petroleum Design explores firsthand the client and consumer motivations behind the demand, and shares the case studies, principles, best practices, risks, and opportunities of the worlds leading post-petroleum design experts who are already meeting that demand. It introduces 40 inspiring individuals from across the globe; people like Eben Bayer, the American innovator whose company, Ecovative, is growing houses from mushrooms; Mohammed Bah Abba, whose Zeer Pot is helping families keep produce fresh in the sweltering Nigerian summer without electricity; and the engineers at Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studios whose Biome car evolves from genetically engineered DNA.

Post-Petroleum Design gives design professionals the information they need to research, evaluate, and select materials, technologies, and design strategies that meet the growing demand for sustainable design, plastic-free materials, and process energy conservation. Designer profiles, studies, statistics, and many color illustrations all highlight the worksome of the best design work to be found anywhere, and showcased here for the first time.

George Elvin is the founder of Gone Studio, the company pioneering post-petroleum design through zero-plastic, zero-waste, zero-electricity manufacturing. His designs have been featured by the Discovery Channel, Macworld, Treehugger, and over 50 other green design venues. The author of over 40 books and articles, his work on green design and technology has been published by Routledge, Wiley and Princeton Architectural Press, among others. Previous positions have included Assistant Professor of Architecture at the University of Illinois and Visiting Fellow at the University of Edinburgh. He is currently an Associate Professor of Architecture at Ball State University in Indiana.

Post-Petroleum Design is a must read for anyone wondering how we built our plastics economy and how we might move beyond it. George Elvin elegantly weaves historical perspective, technical data, and persuasive first person design narratives into a compelling story which also includes actionable design principles. Post-Petroleum Design is both inspiring and a valuable technical reference, my favorite kind of book!
Eben Bayer, CEO and Co-founder of Ecovative, USA

George Elvins book doesnt stop at outlining our path of self-destruction but goes on to share real solutions. Projects and endeavors from people across many different cultures, and in a range of scales, prove that we can all make a change in our corner of the world.
Kenneth Cobonpue, Owner of Kenneth Cobonpue, Philippines

Post-Petroleum Design

George Elvin

First published 2015
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN

and by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business

2015 George Elvin

The right of George Elvin to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Elvin, George.
Post-petroleum design / George Elvin.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Product design. 2. Materials. 3. Green products. 4. Sustainable engineering.
5. Environmental protection. I. Title.
TS171.4.E48 2015
658.5752--dc23
2015000651

ISBN: 978-1-138-85389-8 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-138-85390-4 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-72249-8 (ebk)

Typeset in Minion Pro 9.5/13.5 pt
by Fakenham Prepress Solutions, Fakenham, Norfolk NR21 8NN

Cover image: Phoenix car. Designers Kenneth Cobonpue and Albrecht Birkner teamed to create this concept car, which features the innovative use of rattan and other post-petroleum materials. Image courtesy of Kenneth Cobonpue.

To
Meg