Recently, a new area emerged in sustainability design, referred to as “transition
design” as a result of integrating system innovations and sustainability transitions
theories with design theory and practice, developed at Carnegie Mellon University’s
School of Design in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and quickly gained the attention
of academics, practitioners and design activists from around the world, transition
design is one of the latest design approaches, geared towards social practice
through structural change , it aims to transform societies into a more sustainable
future in ways that improve the quality of life. Sustainability transitions are fundamental,
multidimensional and long-term transitions through which established
socio-technical systems are transformed into more sustainable production and
consumption patterns, including products, practical and technological innovations
as well as actors and interests involved in transition processes. This paper
describes the transition design approach through an overview of origins and
historical development as complementing countless other design approaches as
well as sustainability transitions based on addressing and providing solutions to
global changes in current and future society based on environmental, social and
economic sustainability standards.