Chapman, J. & Gant, N. (Eds), Designers, Visionaries & Other Stories: A Collection of Sustainable Design Essays, Earthscan, London, 2007

Designers, Visionaries and Other Stories unpacks the contentious and contradictory debates on sustainable design, through a collection of critical essays by key theorists, and ‘experts’, with opposing views. The result is an rich anthology, which reinvigorates the culture of critique that, in previous years, has empowered design with the qualities of social, environmental and economic revolution. Collectively, these impacting texts argue that designers have a new purpose, and a visionary cause to champion: sustainability is an unprecedented opportunity for design to reinvent itself. In addition to commentary and narrative running throughout the book by Gant (and co-editor, Chapman), the book features chapters by leading theorists including:

• Ezio Manzini (Professor of Design at the Politecnico di Milano)
• Alastair Fuad-Luke (sustainable design facilitator)
• John Wood (Professor of Design, Goldsmiths College, University of London)
• Dr Stuart Walker (Professor and co-ordinator of Imagination@Lancaster)
• Dr Kate Fletcher (Reader in sustainable fashion and textiles, LCF)
• John Thackara (Director, Doors of Perception)

The research, development and writing of this book was supported by industrial sponsorship (£54,950) and represents a significant collaboration that moves beyond the established disconnect that frequently divides industrial and academic discourses. Citations and acclaim include CNN International, Blueprint and Treehugger.