APPROACHES TO SUSTAINABLE DESIGN

One of the most important decisions for a designer to make is what

material to use in the product. But only the choice of material cannot

make a product sustainable.

Strategies to minimise environmental impact within design and production:

Re-thinking design for the entire product life cycle

Design concern for use and end-of-life and possible re-use or disassembly

Reclaim and re-use waste materials

Design with materials that would otherwise be discarded

Recycle

Design using already reprocessed waste materials

Upcycle

Design using reprossesed or waste materials to make a product of equal orhigher, not lower, quality

Repair and remodel
Make good and existing item fit for new purpose

Recreate
Creatively re-think, customise or re-design an existing design concept

Reduce

Design for minimal use or energy, minimise or eliminate waste materials

Use ecological materials
design choices for environmentally benign fibres, fabrics and other materials, seeking to minimise impact

Use mono materials
Use of only on material tofacilitate recyclability

Harness new technology
Apply technology to achieve reductions in energy, materials or develop more efficient now process

Longer Lasting fashion
Design with high quality materials and making, with aesthetic durability creating additional bonds in addtion to function

Multifunctional products
Designs with more than one use or configuration

Design for delight

Creating new and sustained feel-good relationship with products to be valued