Holistic design views a system as a whole and considers its impact on the environment. Aesthetics and future needs are also important, with a focus on integrating consistent design elements. Sustainability is heavily incorporated, with designers considering everything from materials to energy consumption.
Holistic design is an approach to design that views the designed system as an interconnected whole that is also part of something greater. Holistic concepts can be applied to architecture as well as the design of mechanical devices, layout of spaces and so on. This approach to design often incorporates concerns for the environment, with holistic designers considering how their design will impact the environment and attempting to reduce environmental impact in their designs.
Aesthetics can also be an important consideration in holistic design. Designers can consider how the design as a whole will look by thinking about different ways people will see the design. For example, when designing a structure, the designer reflects on the environment in which the structure will be built, thinking about how it will integrate into the existing environment and also how views of the structure can change depending on the angle, time of the day, and other factors. Additionally, the designer considers how the space will feel from within and what kind of messages should be sent with the space.
Integrating a consistent look is an important aspect of holistic design. Striking design elements can throw off the aesthetics of the entire design. Holistic designers try to design spaces with future needs in mind so that there is no need to make additions that change the nature of the space. Designers seek to make spaces flexible and easy to maintain to reduce the need to make major changes in response to changing needs.
This approach to design can also consider how other things in the same design family will fit. A designer of computer peripherals, for example, would like to design them in a way that integrates well aesthetically and functionally with the computers they are designed for. Some companies are particularly well known for the beauty and harmony of their designs, with users appreciating that any product in the product line will look and work well with other products.
Holistic design also incorporates sustainability heavily, as discussed above. Designers can try to work with sustainable materials and design efficiency and environmental friendliness into whatever system they build, be it a computer or a skyscraper. Sometimes making small changes during the design phase can have a big environmental impact, and this is an important consideration in holistic design. The designer can consider everything from passive systems to reduce energy consumption to active systems designed to reduce a structure’s carbon footprint.
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