'11th Hour' reflection

This film gives great and somewhat shocking insight into how our way of life is affecting our environment. The harsh truth of it is that we are not only destroying the environment around us, but also destroying ourselves. After all, we are not separate from nature; we are a part of it. The film shows us that we need not learn about the environmental issues to understand what is happening, we merely need to look around us. ‘Saving the environment is misstated, the environment is going to survive, and we are the ones that may not survive’.

The 11^th hour expresses the urgency to act now in order to make a change for the future. Everyone can do little things in their daily lives to change our impact on the earth. We need to change our earth from one that is ‘acting like an infected organism’; to one that has a harmony between people and nature. After all ‘we did not inherit this world from our parents, we are borrowing it from our children’.

As a designer, I believe it is important to make changes for the future in our designs and products. Already we are seeing a big push towards eco friendly products. Products are becoming more and more sustainable and are being recognised for their environmentally friendly attributes. Such attributes are turning from hindrances in a product to a positive reason to make and purchase them. The whole image of ‘green’ design is changing for the better. It is being realised by designers and consumers alike that aesthetics and function does not need to be substituted for sustainability and recyclability.

Being a design student, I believe it is very important for me to understand what is happening and that every little bit helps. By designing for sustainability, I can make a positive impact, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. This film has influenced me to look for solutions in my designs to help put the balance back into our world.