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We turn to practice theory (Schatzki, 1996; Shove, 2007; Warde, 2005) to develop a more holistic understanding of how consumers design and produce their own makeshift solutions. This theory upholds that practice-composing behaviours require an interdependent relation among three constitutive elements: materials, competences, and meaning (Shove et al., 2012). Our project explored these three elements’ configurations and interactions to better understand the creativity and resourcefulness that lie at the crux of the makeshift practices.
Our preliminary research findings reveal a new practice form—disruptive—that finds in object reconfiguration its crucial drive.
STRUCTURAL MAKESHIFTINGS
The creation of structural makeshifting alters the materiality of chosen object(s) through their fragmentation and/or amalgamation resulting in an entirely new one.
CAPACITY MAKESHIFTINGS
The creation of capacity makeshifting alters the objects' utility by giving it a new purpose without any material modification, allowing them to be reused for their original purpose.
This how the disruptive process happens in each type of makeshifting:
Object(s) employed in the reconfiguration process
Two plastic bottles, cut and combined in a particular way.
STRUCTURAL MAKESHIFTINGS:
fragmentation and/or amalgamation of (many) objects or their parts.
Solution:
(i.e. the reconfiguration outcome)
Blower fan to light a fire
• This invention is commonly used by barbecue street vendors in Brazil.
Object(s) employed in the transformational process
Shove and sink.
CAPACITY MAKESHIFTINGS:
object’s new finality without material modification.
Solution:
(i.e. the reconfiguration outcome)
Water conductor.
Overall, our study offers an in-depth reflection on sustainable consumption and its implications for public policies. Makeshift practices potentially empower consumers to find ideal solutions despite economic or material constraints.
This homepage was funded by Brunel Research Initiative & Enterprise Fund (BRIEF). An initial pump-priming fund was secured from the Research Centre for Global Lives also at Brunel University London.
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