Implication of the Design Thinking of “Unwasted Usage” Applied to Taiwanese Bamboo Workmanship Culture Chuko, Cheng*, Yang, Ping-Yu**, Lin, Ying-Kuei***, Lin, Jia-Ying**** *Department of Industrial Design, Chaoyang University of Technology , e-mail address:[email protected] **Graduate School of Architecture and Urban Design, Chaoyang University of Technology, e-mail address:[email protected] ***Department of Industrial Design, Chaoyang University of Technology, e-mail address:[email protected] ****Department of Industrial Design Chaoyang University of Technology, e-mail address:[email protected] Abstract: Bamboo materials and bamboo utensils usually employed in our ancestors’ daily lives reflected a fact that bamboo workmanship was not disregarded in Taiwanese lives and cultures but observed in historical records owing to some effects of climate and environment at Taiwan. In previous bamboo-related studies, the principal investigations concentrated in workmanship, daily necessity, manufacture process, and technique mostly rather than design thinking with respect to the workmanship and utensils.In recent years, the green and environment-friendly design thinking, which helps make many materials reduced in the amount of production, recycled, and reclaimed, emerges due to eco-awareness and resource recycling.Discovered in the design source and being one original basic pattern or symbol of the green design concept, the design thinking of “unwasted usage” has its principal implication and strategic thinking to emphasize collective existence with the Earth and unreservedly make the best of natural materials given by the Mother Nature. By the argument of Neo-Confucianism scholars of the Song Dynasty, China, “An object’s noumenon is referred to as the noumenon of all God’s creations” emphasizes that resources fully utilized are the objective to fulfill sustainable existence of green environment.With the design thinking of “unwasted usage” as the central conception in this study, we carried out literature reviews and textual research to collect and summarize history information, from the aspect of realizing knowledge of Taiwanese bamboo workmanship, status of the bamboo workmanship industry, cultural development, and values of bamboo workmanship, and analyzing and investigating: (1) Implication of “unwasted usage”; (2) Relationship between design and green philosophy; (3) Potential of bamboo and flexible application of waste bamboo and mixed bamboo; (4) Design thinking of “unwasted usage” on the basis of these conceptual ideas for the model applicable to Taiwanese bamboo workmanship and culture.There are two essential opinions summarized from this study: (1) Effect of “unwasted usage” on the design education: Based on the concept of design intending for improving human lives, the design background via contacts with utensils, interfaces and space and the innovative model under influence of some modern social issues are gradually developed from design education and learning which exist in both our living scenarios and variable phenomenon or models. In this regard, “unwasted usage” is an objective (or a strategy) induced from development of the design thinking theory. It is possible for one designer to acquire further developed theoretical design knowledge with “unwasted usage” deeply observed and analyzed. (2) Value of “unwasted usage”: The natural recovery of the environment cannot withstand the environmental destruction caused by human beings exploiting their wealthy material lives for mass production, consumption and waste. Comparatively, the fundamental basis of the philosophy of “unwasted usage” is that all types of usable natural materials totally dissolved and returning to soils will contribute to recycling. With the possibility of an aggressive application of any material developed from this idea, we can create a new development value for the design field, improve the ecological effect without serious impact on the natural environment, and fulfill the terminal objective of green design for mutualism, prosperity and sustainable development with nature. Key words: Unwasted Usage; Bamboo Workmanship; Craft Culture; Green Design; Design Thinking 1. Philosophy of Thorough-and-flexible Utilization of Single Substance 1-1 Basic philosophy of thorough-and-flexible utilization of single substance 1 In its broad sense, it indicates that the substance of a single existence is the substance for all being, and the thorough-and-flexible utilization of single substance can be utilized effectively, in multiple aspects, the substance of everything, i.e. fully applying or maximizing the potential of the material or feature of single substance to its limit. In its narrow sense, it is to effectively utilize the material or feature of single substance in multiple aspects while being consistent with environmental concepts like 3R so as to link up the relationship among mankind, resource and environment, hence the codependent loop as a green supply chain. 1-2 Purpose and Approaches In a surrounding where environmental awareness arises and proper utilization is emphasized for resources, the concept of thorough-and-flexible utilization of single substance was born and has grown into a significant philosophy concept in green design. Its key implication is the emphasis on coexistence with our planet earth. This paper on bamboo utilization is an example in which approaches are discussed for a thorough-and-flexible utilization of bamboo to the extent at which no waste remains, hence the saying: “the substance of a single existence is the substance for all being”. It is a concern on the emphasis to practice thorough recycling and reuse of green resources with an ultimate goal to achieve a sustainable existence of green planet earth environment. This paper conducts analysis mainly based on collection of documents so as to sort out and rearrange historical research and related information. Major content and procedures of study herein is as the following: （1）Analysis and discussion on philosophy of thorough-and-flexible utilization of single substance and its implications.（2）Discussion on the interactive relationship between design philosophy, green philosophy and the concept of single substance for all being, based on collecting from documents.（3）Discussion on all parts of bamboo, relevant crafts and other cases of multi-purpose utilization.（4）Based on study above and the example of crafts industry in Taiwan, analysis on the model for design philosophy of thorough-and-flexible utilization of single substance to be achieved and practiced in bamboo craft culture in Taiwan. 1-3 Study of philosophy of thorough-and-flexible utilization of single substance based on performance nature Concerns on the relevance between substances, environment and human based on performance nature indicates that（1）the substance of an existence, i.e. the individual substance has multiple capabilities sufficient to provide usage and utilization potential for single user.（2）The substance and environment, i.e. the substance itself is capable of provisions in multiple aspects for improvement over defects in environment, space or virtual space (internet) so as to provide usage and utilization potential for multiple users. The thorough-and-flexible utilization of single substance means that single substance can be used for multiple purposes. It’s the ultimate concern on maximizing the capabilities of the substance in constrained conditions or space to its limit. 1-4 Study of philosophy of thorough-and-flexible utilization of single substance based on reuse system Existing reuse systems can be categorized into: （1）Recycling and reuse of waste from contaminating substances: to convert waste which is potential threat to natural ecosystem into materials beneficial to the natural ecosystem, or to obtain reusable material to achieve the purpose of recycling and reuse.（2）Recycling and reuse of common waste: to recycle and reuse hard-to-dissolve natural waste, or convert the waste into other products for recycling and reuse.（3）Recycling and reuse of food and natural material remains: for instance, vegetable and fruit remains contain abundant water content and are too bulky for burial or incineration – reinforced burial is also needed for incineration ashes, which adds to burial disposition burden – therefore it is feasible to directly reuse, or extract reusable elements from plant remains and obtain products. Whilst remains or redundant material may be produced during the process, it is required to find out capabilities of the material and apply other conversion or utilization approaches. Thorough-and-flexible utilization of single substance is a concept of thorough usage, recycling and reuse of a single material in the purpose of highly effective usage of limited resources. Its essence goes to the full utilization, conversion and ceaseless recycling and reuse of the substantial elements in a single existence. 1-5 Study of philosophy of thorough-and-flexible utilization of single substance in the view of traditional concepts The implication of thorough-and-flexible utilization of single substance resembles “…body comes from the same source and no difference can be distinguished from this level…” from the Preface for Zhouyi Chengshi 2 Zhuan. “Body” means the substance, the ultimate existence in the universe, and its feature is that it supersedes experiences and belongs to spirit, and it is a unified or universal essence. Substance cannot be separated from utilization and cannot individually