As divers, we obviously care about the marine environment. So what’s stopping us from being at the forefront of change to protect it? Is it really because there is “nothing” we can do? Or is our apathy a result of the way the issues are presented and the solutions are designed?
We went to ask the experts. The Opportunity Lab, part of Singapore’s University of Technology and Design, is an interdisciplinary laboratory that is researching the roles of designers in creating social change. This is their response.
In the drive to promote sustainability, a few simple guiding principles make efforts all the more effective:
KEEP IT NORMAL
Make sustainable behaviour “normal”, not radical
KEEP IT POSITIVE
Focus on the benefits, not the barriers
MAKE IT DEFAULT
Focus on the benefits, not the barriers
GET TOGETHER
Connect with like-minded people
REWARD IT
Give praise and recognition, even when wins are small
KEEP IT PERSONAL
Speak to the individual, and to their tastes and priorities
MAKE IT FUN
Sustainability can be more than just the “right” choice
PROVIDE CHOICES
Let people engage with sustainable behaviour on their own terms
FOSTER COMMITMENT
Challenge people to commit to positive changes for the long run
For the rest of this article (Scuba Diver Issue 3/2015, AA No.82) and other stories, check out our past issues here or download digital copy here.
