Food waste matters: Staging design to foster societal transitions

In a world facing interconnected crises, there is a growing need for approaches that enable long term systemic transformation. Transition design is one such approach. As a specialised field at the intersection of design and sustainability transitions, it aims to guide societies toward desirable futures through systemic interventions. This dissertation advances transition design theory and practice by exploring how designers can stage their expertise to foster societal transitions. Through research in a transition in the Dutch food system, it examines visioning, framing, and evaluating as key areas of design expertise particularly relevant to transition processes.

With one-third of global food production wasted yearly, food systems face increasing strain. High levels of food waste deplete resources, harm the environment, worsen food insecurity, and incur significant economic costs. Reducing food waste is, therefore, critical for easing pressure on ecosystems and mitigating the effects of climate change. In the Netherlands, household waste is particularly prevalent, embedded in entrenched consumption patterns, making systemic change both urgent and complex.

Against this backdrop, the dissertation makes several contributions. It introduces adaptable consumption as an innovative practice to reduce food waste and enhance food system resilience, supported by an intervention portfolio. It provides methodological guidance for designers working across timeframes, actor networks, and scales, helping identify where and how to intervene in complex systems. Finally, it proposes evaluative qualities to assess whether interventions are desirable, plausible, and networked within transition pathways. These contributions enrich the emerging knowledge in transition design while equipping designers with practical tools for engaging with societal transitions.