Impact of Local Craft Markets on Sustainable Design Practices in Urban Contexts

Thesis Abstract

This study investigates how local craft markets influence sustainable design practices within urban contexts, addressing the gap between artisanal production dynamics and metropolitan sustainability objectives. The problem centers on whether proximity to craft markets enhances designers’ adoption of resource-efficient materials, circular production methods, and community-focused design strategies, thereby contributing to more sustainable urban ecosystems. The aim is to elucidate mechanisms through which local craft markets shape designers’ sustainability orientation and to identify actionable conditions that strengthen this linkage. Specific objectives include (1) to assess the extent to which engagement with local craft markets correlates with the use of sustainable materials and lifecycle thinking among urban designers; (2) to examine how market-driven knowledge exchange influences designers’ adoption of circular design principles; (3) to evaluate residents’ perceptions of sustainability outcomes linked to locally crafted products; (4) to analyze institutional and policy facilitators and barriers within urban design practice; and (5) to develop a conceptual model linking market dynamics, designer behavior, and sustainability outcomes in cities. The study employs a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design, beginning with a quantitative survey of 320 professional designers and craft-market vendors across three metropolitan areas to test relationships between market exposure and sustainable design practices using multiple regression analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM). This is followed by qualitative in-depth interviews with 40 designers, market organizers, and urban policymakers to interpret quantitative results and uncover mechanisms using thematic analysis aligned with grounded theory principles. The urban contexts are defined by two large megacities and one mid-sized city to ensure comparative insights across scale. Data collection instruments include a structured questionnaire assessing material choices, design processes, lifecycle considerations, and collaboration patterns; semi-structured interview guides probing knowledge exchange, market organization, certification concerns, and policy??; and document review of municipal sustainability plans, market regulations, and vendor codes of conduct. Validity and reliability procedures incorporate pilot testing (n=30), Cronbach’s alpha testing for multi-item scales (? ? 0.70), inter-rater reliability for interview coding (Cohen’s ? ? 0.80), and triangulation across data sources. The theoretical framework integrates the Theory of Planned Behavior to explore designers’ attitudes, norms, and perceived control over sustainable practices; and the Resource-Based View to explain how local markets function as knowledge and material resource repositories that enable sustainable design capabilities. A third theoretical lens, Actor-Network Theory, is employed to map the interactions among designers, vendors, consumers, and policy actors within the urban craft economy. Anticipated findings include (a) positive associations between frequency and depth of market interactions and the adoption of renewable materials, modular construction techniques, and repairable product strategies; (b) evidence that knowledge exchange in markets mediates designers’ intentionality to pursue circular design pathways; (c) heightened resident support and perceived sustainability benefits in neighborhoods with active craft-market ecosystems; and (d) identification of regulatory and logistical constraints, such as procurement barriers and certification ambiguities, that impede wider adoption of sustainable practices. The study contributes to knowledge by articulating a typology of market-design collaborations and by validating a hybrid conceptual model that links market-mediated knowledge exchange, designer behavior, and urban sustainability outcomes. It provides empirical evidence on how localized artisanal economies can be leveraged to scale sustainable design within dense urban forms, offering policy recommendations for municipal planners, market organizers, and design educators. The expected conclusion emphasizes the strategic role of local craft markets as catalysts for sustainable design in cities, suggesting targeted interventions such as standardized material certification schemes, co-design workshops integrating residents and makers, and incentives for designers to adopt circular design frameworks. Recommendations include establishing market-led sustainability guidelines, embedding circular design modules in design curricula, and fostering cross-city knowledge exchanges to replicate successful market-design collaborations.