‘This is a wonderful book that should be on the desk of every architect and planner. It shows how

Question indicators [Chapter 9]
A SmartMode approach looks for problems in existing development or organizations that can be directly 
targeted by investments in physical design solutions. It avoids indirect policies and unpredictable 
incentives when simple net positive solutions can be used instead. Systems improvements can be 
made before a problem is even ‘measurable’. Indicators of poor system design could sometimes be 
more useful than broad, sweeping trends in the environment generally. They may help dislodge the 
obsession with trends in ‘pollution’ and their implications for human health (the outcome of design) 
to the exclusion of biophysical design itself.

Conversely, when biophysical design is considered, 

the implications for ecological and democratic outcomes are often not. As we have seen, there are 
indicators of bad design on all levels: 
•
Single function spaces in urban development are often an indicator of wasted opportunity to
improve human and environmental health. 
• 
A product that must be produced with child labour or slavery is an indicator of poor systems
design (eg some monocultural coffee plantations).
• 
An increasing concentration of wealth is an indicator of unjust enrichment (eg golden
handshakes and parachutes to CEOs even when their company’s profits sink). 
• 
Toxic working relations are an indicator of ineffective management, low productivity, and an 
environment that impedes creativity and innovation.

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The SmartMode Process
Step 7: Develop Planning Information, Concepts and Strategies
Having conducted forensic analyses, explored assumptions, and selected methods and tools, the 
next step is to ensure planning research, principles, processes and strategies remain relevant to 
sustainability issues. Planning and decision-making has not been self-reflective, in part due to 
instrumental conditioning in the professions (where unthinking behaviours are rewarded, like mice 
in a maze). For a while, planners called themselves proactive if they tried to attract any industry 
to a region. Today, they are increasingly trying to attract green business and industry through, 
for example, eco-industrial parks. While this is an improvement, planners need also to focus on 
correcting existing social and ecological deficiencies.