Morphing/Shape-Shifting Artifacts

Alternative Solutions for Promoting Sustainable Consumption and Corporate Social Responsibility

Tim Antoniuk, Assistant Professor | University of Alberta

Introduction

This paper relays initial findings of a three-year interdisciplinary research project that is being
initiated by the author of this paper (a $250,000 grant was received in July 2005 to expand on
initial findings). It presents ideas for developing and instituting a sustainable design, production,
supply, consumption and disposal model (‘the product system’), and offers a condensed strategy
and scenario that is intended to: fit into our current social and economic system; educate
businesses and consumers about their social and ecological foot print (the harmful product
systems that they are a part of); and on a corporate level, it aims to provide medium and large
manufacturers and retail chains research findings that could enhance their future economic
growth while avoiding many of the harmful social and ecological trends that they may be involved
in or may currently be perpetuating.

Amongst many other important and interrelated objectives, this program of research is attempting
to provide the international design and business community with a usable and profitable strategy
for promoting corporate social and ecological responsibility. This paper outlines the thesis that it
is possible for a relatively small group of memory-based materials to be used in a new generation
of morphing/shape-shifting artifacts and environments (their form can be easily altered), to have a
direct and measurable impact in improving the social and ecological commons—if used in a
strategic and responsible manner. Redefining and significantly expanding when the life of the
“originally cast” material and artifact is finished, and when the aesthetic appeal of that artifact has
ended (or must be altered) is central to this project’s investigations.

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