a reminder of it being on or off.” The Element’s aesthetic form and engaging interactions do not directly reward sustainable behavior, but rather they entice the user to explore and interact with it, stimulating critical reflection. As inspiration for their design, the designers acknowledge Verbeek and Kockelkoren’s concept of engaging objects, which “move underlying operations of objects to a visible level and make users part of the functional processes.” The Element encourages active engagement from users and makes its inner workings transparent [ 7]. In doing so it may encourage sustainable usage and prompt the individual to think more deeply about the relationship between energy and use. In spite of its useful feedback and aesthetic appeal, it is unlikely to be used as a functional product. Still, the Element is a valuable source of knowledge for designers and the public—offering a critique of dominant approaches to design and suggesting new directions for the design of more pleasurable, meaningful, and sustainable everyday products.

As described by its designers, “the Energy Curtain is a window shade woven from a combination of textile, solar-collection and light-emitting materials [ 8].” Traditionally, the primary function of curtains is to regulate light. The Energy Curtain does not provide any additional usefulness or usability, nor does it provide any persuasive information. It does provide aesthetic value: “During the day, the shade can be drawn … and, during the evening, the collected

 

 The Energy Curtain

Image courtesy of Interactive Institute. Used with permission.