David Peck | Delft University of Technology (original) (raw)
David works for Delft University of Technology. He is a senior research fellow in the faculty of Architecture and Built Environment. He also has a role as a manager and project director in a central function. He is participating in the the Leiden (Leiden University), Delft (Delft University of Technology), Erasmus (Erasmus University - Rotterdam School of Management), Centre for Sustainability. David is a visiting Professor at the School of Engineering, Computing and Environment in Coventry University and adjunct Professor at MIP, Politecnico di Milano Graduate School of Business .
Activity:
Circular Design and Critical Raw Materials, Re-manufacturing, Material Selection, Material Value Chains, Sustainable Design, Circular Business Models, Resource solutions, Critical Materials, Business studies, Circular Retail, Entrepreneurship, Materials History, Career planning, funding bid development.Resource efficient design, closing loops, going circular.
Current research:
A wide range of products and equipment contains critical materials. The subject of critical materials has come to the attention of product producing companies and governments over recent years. A number of publications have tacked the subject of critical materials from a range of perspectives, using differing criteria to define criticality. What is clear is that challenges and opportunities arising from the availability of critical materials are directly related to the design of the products which use them. A range of circular design approaches offer a pathway out of critical materials supply insecurity. Full list of publications can be viewed at: https://scholar.google.nl/citations?user=N9eHxiYAAAAJ&hl=en
Specialties: Research, Education, Fund raising, Critical Materials and product innovation, Circular design, Circular economy, Sustainability, Sustainable Leadership, Eco design, Innovation, Material Security, Business, Management and Leadership.
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Papers by David Peck
Raw material criticality, whether through natural resource constraints or political maneuvering i... more Raw material criticality, whether through natural resource constraints or political maneuvering is increasingly exposing different industries that develop products to a range of adverse risk scenarios. Exploratory research was conducted to gain an insight into the awareness of companies to the challenges critical metals can present and to ascertain if action is being taken. The study clearly demonstrates a need for more research to gain a deeper insight into mitigating adverse critical metal risk throughout the different stages of the product development process. The conclusion provides an insight as to the implications for further research.
Mineral Economics, 2022
In this article, we explore concrete examples of circularity strategies for critical raw material... more In this article, we explore concrete examples of circularity strategies for critical raw materials (CRMs) in commercial settings. We propose a company-level framework for systematically evaluating circularity strategies (e.g., material recycling, product reuse, and product or component lifetime extension) in specific applications of CRMs from the perspectives of specific industrial actors. This framework is applied in qualitative analyses—informed by relevant literature and expert consultation—of five case studies across a range of industries: (1) rhenium in high-pressure turbine components, (2) platinum group metals in industrial catalysts for chemical processing and oil refining, (3) rare earth permanent magnets in computer hard disk drives, (4) various CRMs in consumer electronics, and (5) helium in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines. Drawing from these case studies, three broader observations can be made about company circularity strategies for CRMs. Firstly, there are mu...
Journal of Remanufacturing, 2022
Remanufacturing offers an approach to extend product lifetime beyond its first use. After restori... more Remanufacturing offers an approach to extend product lifetime beyond its first use. After restoring products to original quality, they are reintroduced to the market. To make products more suited for this approach, and to increase resource-efficiency, design for remanufacturing can be incorporated for new product development. Academic literature points out opportunities for improved implementation particularly through early-stage design activities. This paper presents an in-depth, single case study into the opportunities and barriers to incorporate design for remanufacturing ine early-stage design. The selected case company is a producer of professional imaging equipment with an internal remanufacturing division. The company has decades of experience in remanufacturing and has introduced a company standard on design for End-of-Life. For data collection, employees from different departments were interviewed and observed. Design management theory was used to combine findings from all ...
Journal of Remanufacturing, 2020
Adopting design approaches that allow products to last multiple use-cycles supports European Comm... more Adopting design approaches that allow products to last multiple use-cycles supports European Commission objectives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce primary material impacts. Remanufacturing is an example of an appropriate circular strategy and it can be applied in a variety of industries that are intensive materials users. However, most companies have not yet adopted design strategies facilitating remanufacturing at scale. In this paper, we explored how design management can facilitate the implementation of Design for Remanufacturing, based on a literature review and in-depth interviews. Seven companies active in business-to-business markets were interviewed about the design-related opportunities and barriers they see for remanufacturing. We found that access to technical knowledge is not a barrier, whereas integrating this knowledge into the existing design process is. We conclude that design management can contribute to the uptake of Design for Remanufacturing for the...
Materials are important in economies, business, innovation activity and products, and they have q... more Materials are important in economies, business, innovation activity and products, and they have quickly become essential to maintain and improve our quality of life. The world faces problems concerning material supply, but these concerns are not translated into product design activity, even though history shows that product design policy can play an important role in finding solutions to materials problems. This paper has a focus on the role of governmental policy in ensuring material availability to the state. The case of British WWII Utility Furniture scheme is one where consumer products were designed and developed as a response to severe material shortages. This action is set in the context of wartime conditions where the products were designed, manufactured, used and often reused over a long lifetime, under very stringent governmental control. The control came from the government ministries but was designed and manufactured by the private sector. The furniture scheme was brough...
Sustainability, 2020
This paper analyses the user safety of a playground built out of reused blades from a dismantled ... more This paper analyses the user safety of a playground built out of reused blades from a dismantled wind turbine. Located in Rotterdam and designed by the Netherlands architecture firm Superuse Studios, the playground, called “Wikado”, represents an example of the circular economy applied to the built environment. With reused materials, Wikado represents a saving in resources and energy, when compared to a standard playground built with primary materials. Furthermore, the playground creates a unique design experience for its users, who can still recognise the original rotor blades following their transformation into slides, platforms, and tunnels. However, the safety of the playground could be questioned. This paper will analyse the materials and products used in the playground and their condition some years after opening. The analysis focuses on the risks of human health during the use of the playground. It considers the shape and the sharpness of the rotor blades, its components such...
Sustainability, 2020
In recent years, implementing a circular economy in cities (or “circular cities”) has been propos... more In recent years, implementing a circular economy in cities (or “circular cities”) has been proposed by policy makers as a potential solution for achieving sustainability. One strategy for circular cities is to reintroduce manufacturing into urban areas (or “urban manufacturing”), allowing resource flows to be localized at the city scale. However, the extent to which urban manufacturing contributes to circular cities is unclear in existing literature. The purpose of this paper is therefore twofold: to understand whether urban manufacturing could contribute to the circular economy, and to understand the drivers and barriers to circular urban manufacturing. By reviewing existing literature and interviewing experts, we identified the caveats for the contribution of urban manufacturing to circular cities, as well as the spatial, social, and material-related drivers and barriers for circular urban manufacturing.
Sustainability, 2019
The availability of resources is crucial for the socio-economic stability of our society. For mor... more The availability of resources is crucial for the socio-economic stability of our society. For more than two decades, there was a debate on how to structure this issue within the context of life-Cycle assessment (LCA). The classical approach with LCA is to describe “scarcity” for future generations (100–1000 years) in terms of absolute depletion. The problem, however, is that the long-term availability is simply not known (within a factor of 100–1000). Outside the LCA community, the short-term supply risks (10–30 years) were predicted, resulting in the list of critical raw materials (CRM) of the European Union (EU), and the British risk list. The methodology used, however, cannot easily be transposed and applied into LCA calculations. This paper presents a new approach to the issue of short-term material supply shortages, based on subsequent sudden price jumps, which can lead to socio-economic instability. The basic approach is that each resource is characterized by its own specific ...
Resources, Conservation & Recycling: X, 2019
Paper Highlights Differences in goal and scope of criticality studies result in different outco... more Paper Highlights Differences in goal and scope of criticality studies result in different outcomes Cause-and-effect mechanisms of indicators and outcomes are poorly understood The availability of high-quality data limits the evaluation of criticality Criticality methods should be more transparent to support interpretation
Journal of Remanufacturing, 2017
Eco-efficient Value Creation is a method to analyse innovative product and service design togethe... more Eco-efficient Value Creation is a method to analyse innovative product and service design together with circular business strategies. The method is based on combined analyses of the costs, market value (perceived customer value) and eco-costs. This provides a prevention-based single indicator for ‘external environmental costs’ in LCA. The remanufacturing of products is an environmental and sustainable approach, in the circular economy, and can deliver lower eco-costs of materials depletion and pollution. From a business point of view, however, remanufacturing seems to be viable in B2B niche markets only. In consumer markets, remanufacturing is less common. The question is how can remanufacturing become a viable business solution for mainstream consumer markets. Traditional ‘green’ marketing approaches are not enough: green has a positive, but also negative connotations, so marketing approaches are complex. By using the Eco-efficient Value Creation method, marketing strategies for th...
Sustainable innovation comes in many forms and sizes. There are different philosophies about how ... more Sustainable innovation comes in many forms and sizes. There are different philosophies about how to design, such as EcoDesign, bio-mimicry and Cradle-to-cradle. There are differences in organizational contexts, such as multinationals, small and medium sized enterprises, start-ups and design agencies. Furthermore, different product categories and/or industries are suited to different approaches. What leads to a successful and sustainable innovation in one particular context need not necessarily work in the next. In order to make students fully aware of these strategic choices, a module was developed within the taught master's program of Integrated Product Design at Delft University of Technology, aiming at teaching students to perform a stakeholder analysis and a driver analysis for a given innovation project, in light of sustainability, and to empower students to discuss how sustainable innovation manifests itself differently in different organizational contexts, and to communicate about sustainable innovation using business language. The course ran successfully with 120 students. Participants were required to submit weekly reflections on a diverse range of scientific and non-scientific materials. Assessment was based on a scientific case study written on a unique and self-chosen historical sustainable innovation, and a single blind peer-review executed on the work of fellow students. This paper discusses the chosen setup of the course, with the didactical substantiation. It also highlights pointers for other educators how want to apply similar teaching methods. The paper further discusses how this setup allowed connecting ongoing research by senior researchers and PhD candidates to the taught master's program.
EADIS is a two year international initiative funded by Leonardo Da Vinci UK. It involves five Eur... more EADIS is a two year international initiative funded by Leonardo Da Vinci UK. It involves five European design-related educational institutions who have developed a Vehicle Telematics Road Map. The map acts as the basis for an internationally available online training programme that shares knowledge about telematics and its innovative and appropriate application. This programme is highly targeted and ranges from defining concepts and terminology to exploring the challenges and opportunities for application including issues such as interface and usability from a social, ethical and technological perspective, and with particular emphasis upon developing sustainability and policy awareness.
Historians understand the important role that access to critical raw materials has played in the ... more Historians understand the important role that access to critical raw materials has played in the development of civilizations, however access to materials has regularly led to distrust and conflict. Near future material scarcity scenarios appear to be severe and could include a mix of price volatility, supply disruptions and geopolitical tensions. Materials scarcity would affect the supply side of a range of materials upon which high-tech and renewable energy industries rely. Historically, materials restrictions were placed by societies, onto themselves and were generally short term or limited in nature. The current materials scarcity challenge, whilst being self imposed, will be long term and global in nature. One fundamental challenge will be to explore historical case studies that give us a reference point to explore potential responses. There are numerous case studies over the 20th century-mainly driven by conflicts and sanctions. This paper examines one case in particular-that of Britain during World War Two. This case has a number of facets that make it very useful for analysis. The first of these is the length of time-counted in years. Secondly-the materials involved and in particular the metals and the lack of easily available substitutes. Thirdly-the role of secondary sourcing (recycling and reuse). Fourth-it explores the role of government in facilitating change. The final and prime facet of the case is the role of innovation and design. This paper will derive lessons that can be learnt from the case and show clearly how they may give indications of current responses to materials scarcity scenarios.
Sustainability
Design indicators can be used by companies to track circular design implementation, which can yie... more Design indicators can be used by companies to track circular design implementation, which can yield insights into their performance and opportunities for improvement. Yet, existing indicator methods either lack depth with regard to circular design, are incomplete, or do not use design semantics. This study explores product-level circularity indicators, with the aim of developing a comprehensive circularity indicator method specifically aimed at designers. The method development process follows a three step Design Science Research approach. It comprises a literature review and knowledge coproduction sessions with circular design experts on topics such as durability, repair, remanufacturing, and recycling. Furthermore, it includes company evaluations with two multinational corporations operating in the white goods and automotive industries. The study delivers the first indicator method for assessing circular product design on a broad range of aspects, including levels of readiness, co...
World Scientific Series in Current Energy Issues, 2019
For product designers, the world has traditionally been one of resource abundance. Introducing th... more For product designers, the world has traditionally been one of resource abundance. Introducing them to a resource-constrained world thus requires new design strategies. This chapter explores how embedding circular economy principles into design practice and education could help product designers take critical material problems into account. We introduce four product design strategies that address materials criticality: (1) avoiding and (2) minimizing the use of critical materials, (3) designing products for prolonged use and reuse, and (4) designing products for recycling. The ‘circular’ strategies (3) and (4) are elaborated, as these sit most firmly within the remit of product design. This leads to a typology of circular product design that redefines product and material lifetime in terms of obsolescence, and introduces a range of approaches to resist, postpone or reverse product and material obsolescence. The typology establishes the basis for the field of circular product design, bringing together design approaches that were until this date unconnected and paving the way for the development of detailed design methods.
International Journal of Automation Technology, 2014
Globally there is increasing concern about a range of materials which have been termed critical m... more Globally there is increasing concern about a range of materials which have been termed critical materials. This paper defines critical materials as single elements, which are metals, at risk of supply constraints, financially costly, price volatile, deemed economically important and difficult to substitute as a result of their special or unique properties. These metals are used in engineering, technology applications, and product designs. They are widely used and of high value in the field of Automation Technologies. Previous studies have shown that awareness and understanding about critical materials in companies is low. This paper outlines a novel approach to address the company gap in knowledge through the development and testing of a specially developed serious game called ‘In the Loop: The Critical Raw Materials Game.’ Developed from prior research, company case studies, and literature, the game serves as a catalyst for informed discussion about the topic of critical materials....
Materials & Design (1980-2015), 2015
Globally there is increasing attention towards a range of materials that have been termed critica... more Globally there is increasing attention towards a range of materials that have been termed critical materials. This paper will focus on a set of critical materials, mostly named as single elements, that are metals, at risk of supply constraints, have environmental implications, financially costly, price volatile, deemed economically important and are difficult to substitute as a result of their unique properties or for economic reasons. These metals are used in engineering, technology applications and product designs. A number of publications argue that product design has an important role to play in responding to critical material risks. This paper analyses and compares a selected range of 29 published definitions and descriptors of critical materials produced since the end of 1999 to June 2014. This review establishes that most definitions are developed by those outside the field of product design and the resulting definitions make it difficult for product designers, and the wider product development team, to engage in activity to address the critical materials challenge. There is a gap between the practice of product design and the current definitions. Through a structured analysis of this literature this paper develops a definition of critical materials that includes product design considerations, in order to make a first step in addressing the gap. The aim of the definition going forwards is to facilitate increased product design activity around the substitution of critical materials, including circular, closed loop, approaches, in order to contribute towards reducing critical materials supply risks.
Journal of Cleaner Production, 2013
and Consumption' was the overarching theme of the joint conference. This theme was chosen based o... more and Consumption' was the overarching theme of the joint conference. This theme was chosen based on the conviction that knowledge collaboration, participation, and learning are key to achieve sustainability in innovation, consumption, and (higher) education. Knowledge collaboration, participation, and learning are often linked to sustainable innovation and consumption. Education is crucial for changing society and for the challenge of sustainable development education starting at elementary schools, but also at secondary schools, and higher education is needed and indispensable. The joint ERSCP-EMSU 2010 Conference in Delft provided a unique opportunity to integrate progress in sustainable consumption, production and innovation with higher education and universities. This great opportunity was facilitated by joining the Delft University of Technology and TNO initiative to organize the 15th ERSCP and The Hague University of Applied Sciences initiative to organize the 6th EMSU Conference. The joint ERSCP-EMSU 2010 Conference attracted over 400 participants to Delft and nearly 100 in the parallel Conference in Cape Town. Over 350 contributions including paper presentations, poster presentations and workshops at the two conference sites were organized into the following topics: a.
European Journal of Engineering Education, 2013
Developed economies have become highly dependent on a range of technology metals with names such ... more Developed economies have become highly dependent on a range of technology metals with names such as neodymium and terbium. Stakeholders have warned of the impending scarcity of these critical materials. Difficulties in materials supply can affect the high-tech industries as well as the success of sustainable innovation strategies that are based on sophisticated technology. Industrial designers and engineers should therefore increase their awareness of the limits in availability of critical materials. In this paper, it is argued that materials’ criticality can give a fresh impetus to the higher education of industrial design engineers. It is important to train future professionals to apply a systems perspective to the process of technology innovation, enabling them to thrive under circumstances of constrained material choices. The conclusions outline ideas on how to weave the topic into existing educational programmes of future technology developers.
Raw material criticality, whether through natural resource constraints or political maneuvering i... more Raw material criticality, whether through natural resource constraints or political maneuvering is increasingly exposing different industries that develop products to a range of adverse risk scenarios. Exploratory research was conducted to gain an insight into the awareness of companies to the challenges critical metals can present and to ascertain if action is being taken. The study clearly demonstrates a need for more research to gain a deeper insight into mitigating adverse critical metal risk throughout the different stages of the product development process. The conclusion provides an insight as to the implications for further research.
Mineral Economics, 2022
In this article, we explore concrete examples of circularity strategies for critical raw material... more In this article, we explore concrete examples of circularity strategies for critical raw materials (CRMs) in commercial settings. We propose a company-level framework for systematically evaluating circularity strategies (e.g., material recycling, product reuse, and product or component lifetime extension) in specific applications of CRMs from the perspectives of specific industrial actors. This framework is applied in qualitative analyses—informed by relevant literature and expert consultation—of five case studies across a range of industries: (1) rhenium in high-pressure turbine components, (2) platinum group metals in industrial catalysts for chemical processing and oil refining, (3) rare earth permanent magnets in computer hard disk drives, (4) various CRMs in consumer electronics, and (5) helium in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines. Drawing from these case studies, three broader observations can be made about company circularity strategies for CRMs. Firstly, there are mu...
Journal of Remanufacturing, 2022
Remanufacturing offers an approach to extend product lifetime beyond its first use. After restori... more Remanufacturing offers an approach to extend product lifetime beyond its first use. After restoring products to original quality, they are reintroduced to the market. To make products more suited for this approach, and to increase resource-efficiency, design for remanufacturing can be incorporated for new product development. Academic literature points out opportunities for improved implementation particularly through early-stage design activities. This paper presents an in-depth, single case study into the opportunities and barriers to incorporate design for remanufacturing ine early-stage design. The selected case company is a producer of professional imaging equipment with an internal remanufacturing division. The company has decades of experience in remanufacturing and has introduced a company standard on design for End-of-Life. For data collection, employees from different departments were interviewed and observed. Design management theory was used to combine findings from all ...
Journal of Remanufacturing, 2020
Adopting design approaches that allow products to last multiple use-cycles supports European Comm... more Adopting design approaches that allow products to last multiple use-cycles supports European Commission objectives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce primary material impacts. Remanufacturing is an example of an appropriate circular strategy and it can be applied in a variety of industries that are intensive materials users. However, most companies have not yet adopted design strategies facilitating remanufacturing at scale. In this paper, we explored how design management can facilitate the implementation of Design for Remanufacturing, based on a literature review and in-depth interviews. Seven companies active in business-to-business markets were interviewed about the design-related opportunities and barriers they see for remanufacturing. We found that access to technical knowledge is not a barrier, whereas integrating this knowledge into the existing design process is. We conclude that design management can contribute to the uptake of Design for Remanufacturing for the...
Materials are important in economies, business, innovation activity and products, and they have q... more Materials are important in economies, business, innovation activity and products, and they have quickly become essential to maintain and improve our quality of life. The world faces problems concerning material supply, but these concerns are not translated into product design activity, even though history shows that product design policy can play an important role in finding solutions to materials problems. This paper has a focus on the role of governmental policy in ensuring material availability to the state. The case of British WWII Utility Furniture scheme is one where consumer products were designed and developed as a response to severe material shortages. This action is set in the context of wartime conditions where the products were designed, manufactured, used and often reused over a long lifetime, under very stringent governmental control. The control came from the government ministries but was designed and manufactured by the private sector. The furniture scheme was brough...
Sustainability, 2020
This paper analyses the user safety of a playground built out of reused blades from a dismantled ... more This paper analyses the user safety of a playground built out of reused blades from a dismantled wind turbine. Located in Rotterdam and designed by the Netherlands architecture firm Superuse Studios, the playground, called “Wikado”, represents an example of the circular economy applied to the built environment. With reused materials, Wikado represents a saving in resources and energy, when compared to a standard playground built with primary materials. Furthermore, the playground creates a unique design experience for its users, who can still recognise the original rotor blades following their transformation into slides, platforms, and tunnels. However, the safety of the playground could be questioned. This paper will analyse the materials and products used in the playground and their condition some years after opening. The analysis focuses on the risks of human health during the use of the playground. It considers the shape and the sharpness of the rotor blades, its components such...
Sustainability, 2020
In recent years, implementing a circular economy in cities (or “circular cities”) has been propos... more In recent years, implementing a circular economy in cities (or “circular cities”) has been proposed by policy makers as a potential solution for achieving sustainability. One strategy for circular cities is to reintroduce manufacturing into urban areas (or “urban manufacturing”), allowing resource flows to be localized at the city scale. However, the extent to which urban manufacturing contributes to circular cities is unclear in existing literature. The purpose of this paper is therefore twofold: to understand whether urban manufacturing could contribute to the circular economy, and to understand the drivers and barriers to circular urban manufacturing. By reviewing existing literature and interviewing experts, we identified the caveats for the contribution of urban manufacturing to circular cities, as well as the spatial, social, and material-related drivers and barriers for circular urban manufacturing.
Sustainability, 2019
The availability of resources is crucial for the socio-economic stability of our society. For mor... more The availability of resources is crucial for the socio-economic stability of our society. For more than two decades, there was a debate on how to structure this issue within the context of life-Cycle assessment (LCA). The classical approach with LCA is to describe “scarcity” for future generations (100–1000 years) in terms of absolute depletion. The problem, however, is that the long-term availability is simply not known (within a factor of 100–1000). Outside the LCA community, the short-term supply risks (10–30 years) were predicted, resulting in the list of critical raw materials (CRM) of the European Union (EU), and the British risk list. The methodology used, however, cannot easily be transposed and applied into LCA calculations. This paper presents a new approach to the issue of short-term material supply shortages, based on subsequent sudden price jumps, which can lead to socio-economic instability. The basic approach is that each resource is characterized by its own specific ...
Resources, Conservation & Recycling: X, 2019
Paper Highlights Differences in goal and scope of criticality studies result in different outco... more Paper Highlights Differences in goal and scope of criticality studies result in different outcomes Cause-and-effect mechanisms of indicators and outcomes are poorly understood The availability of high-quality data limits the evaluation of criticality Criticality methods should be more transparent to support interpretation
Journal of Remanufacturing, 2017
Eco-efficient Value Creation is a method to analyse innovative product and service design togethe... more Eco-efficient Value Creation is a method to analyse innovative product and service design together with circular business strategies. The method is based on combined analyses of the costs, market value (perceived customer value) and eco-costs. This provides a prevention-based single indicator for ‘external environmental costs’ in LCA. The remanufacturing of products is an environmental and sustainable approach, in the circular economy, and can deliver lower eco-costs of materials depletion and pollution. From a business point of view, however, remanufacturing seems to be viable in B2B niche markets only. In consumer markets, remanufacturing is less common. The question is how can remanufacturing become a viable business solution for mainstream consumer markets. Traditional ‘green’ marketing approaches are not enough: green has a positive, but also negative connotations, so marketing approaches are complex. By using the Eco-efficient Value Creation method, marketing strategies for th...
Sustainable innovation comes in many forms and sizes. There are different philosophies about how ... more Sustainable innovation comes in many forms and sizes. There are different philosophies about how to design, such as EcoDesign, bio-mimicry and Cradle-to-cradle. There are differences in organizational contexts, such as multinationals, small and medium sized enterprises, start-ups and design agencies. Furthermore, different product categories and/or industries are suited to different approaches. What leads to a successful and sustainable innovation in one particular context need not necessarily work in the next. In order to make students fully aware of these strategic choices, a module was developed within the taught master's program of Integrated Product Design at Delft University of Technology, aiming at teaching students to perform a stakeholder analysis and a driver analysis for a given innovation project, in light of sustainability, and to empower students to discuss how sustainable innovation manifests itself differently in different organizational contexts, and to communicate about sustainable innovation using business language. The course ran successfully with 120 students. Participants were required to submit weekly reflections on a diverse range of scientific and non-scientific materials. Assessment was based on a scientific case study written on a unique and self-chosen historical sustainable innovation, and a single blind peer-review executed on the work of fellow students. This paper discusses the chosen setup of the course, with the didactical substantiation. It also highlights pointers for other educators how want to apply similar teaching methods. The paper further discusses how this setup allowed connecting ongoing research by senior researchers and PhD candidates to the taught master's program.
EADIS is a two year international initiative funded by Leonardo Da Vinci UK. It involves five Eur... more EADIS is a two year international initiative funded by Leonardo Da Vinci UK. It involves five European design-related educational institutions who have developed a Vehicle Telematics Road Map. The map acts as the basis for an internationally available online training programme that shares knowledge about telematics and its innovative and appropriate application. This programme is highly targeted and ranges from defining concepts and terminology to exploring the challenges and opportunities for application including issues such as interface and usability from a social, ethical and technological perspective, and with particular emphasis upon developing sustainability and policy awareness.
Historians understand the important role that access to critical raw materials has played in the ... more Historians understand the important role that access to critical raw materials has played in the development of civilizations, however access to materials has regularly led to distrust and conflict. Near future material scarcity scenarios appear to be severe and could include a mix of price volatility, supply disruptions and geopolitical tensions. Materials scarcity would affect the supply side of a range of materials upon which high-tech and renewable energy industries rely. Historically, materials restrictions were placed by societies, onto themselves and were generally short term or limited in nature. The current materials scarcity challenge, whilst being self imposed, will be long term and global in nature. One fundamental challenge will be to explore historical case studies that give us a reference point to explore potential responses. There are numerous case studies over the 20th century-mainly driven by conflicts and sanctions. This paper examines one case in particular-that of Britain during World War Two. This case has a number of facets that make it very useful for analysis. The first of these is the length of time-counted in years. Secondly-the materials involved and in particular the metals and the lack of easily available substitutes. Thirdly-the role of secondary sourcing (recycling and reuse). Fourth-it explores the role of government in facilitating change. The final and prime facet of the case is the role of innovation and design. This paper will derive lessons that can be learnt from the case and show clearly how they may give indications of current responses to materials scarcity scenarios.
Sustainability
Design indicators can be used by companies to track circular design implementation, which can yie... more Design indicators can be used by companies to track circular design implementation, which can yield insights into their performance and opportunities for improvement. Yet, existing indicator methods either lack depth with regard to circular design, are incomplete, or do not use design semantics. This study explores product-level circularity indicators, with the aim of developing a comprehensive circularity indicator method specifically aimed at designers. The method development process follows a three step Design Science Research approach. It comprises a literature review and knowledge coproduction sessions with circular design experts on topics such as durability, repair, remanufacturing, and recycling. Furthermore, it includes company evaluations with two multinational corporations operating in the white goods and automotive industries. The study delivers the first indicator method for assessing circular product design on a broad range of aspects, including levels of readiness, co...
World Scientific Series in Current Energy Issues, 2019
For product designers, the world has traditionally been one of resource abundance. Introducing th... more For product designers, the world has traditionally been one of resource abundance. Introducing them to a resource-constrained world thus requires new design strategies. This chapter explores how embedding circular economy principles into design practice and education could help product designers take critical material problems into account. We introduce four product design strategies that address materials criticality: (1) avoiding and (2) minimizing the use of critical materials, (3) designing products for prolonged use and reuse, and (4) designing products for recycling. The ‘circular’ strategies (3) and (4) are elaborated, as these sit most firmly within the remit of product design. This leads to a typology of circular product design that redefines product and material lifetime in terms of obsolescence, and introduces a range of approaches to resist, postpone or reverse product and material obsolescence. The typology establishes the basis for the field of circular product design, bringing together design approaches that were until this date unconnected and paving the way for the development of detailed design methods.
International Journal of Automation Technology, 2014
Globally there is increasing concern about a range of materials which have been termed critical m... more Globally there is increasing concern about a range of materials which have been termed critical materials. This paper defines critical materials as single elements, which are metals, at risk of supply constraints, financially costly, price volatile, deemed economically important and difficult to substitute as a result of their special or unique properties. These metals are used in engineering, technology applications, and product designs. They are widely used and of high value in the field of Automation Technologies. Previous studies have shown that awareness and understanding about critical materials in companies is low. This paper outlines a novel approach to address the company gap in knowledge through the development and testing of a specially developed serious game called ‘In the Loop: The Critical Raw Materials Game.’ Developed from prior research, company case studies, and literature, the game serves as a catalyst for informed discussion about the topic of critical materials....
Materials & Design (1980-2015), 2015
Globally there is increasing attention towards a range of materials that have been termed critica... more Globally there is increasing attention towards a range of materials that have been termed critical materials. This paper will focus on a set of critical materials, mostly named as single elements, that are metals, at risk of supply constraints, have environmental implications, financially costly, price volatile, deemed economically important and are difficult to substitute as a result of their unique properties or for economic reasons. These metals are used in engineering, technology applications and product designs. A number of publications argue that product design has an important role to play in responding to critical material risks. This paper analyses and compares a selected range of 29 published definitions and descriptors of critical materials produced since the end of 1999 to June 2014. This review establishes that most definitions are developed by those outside the field of product design and the resulting definitions make it difficult for product designers, and the wider product development team, to engage in activity to address the critical materials challenge. There is a gap between the practice of product design and the current definitions. Through a structured analysis of this literature this paper develops a definition of critical materials that includes product design considerations, in order to make a first step in addressing the gap. The aim of the definition going forwards is to facilitate increased product design activity around the substitution of critical materials, including circular, closed loop, approaches, in order to contribute towards reducing critical materials supply risks.
Journal of Cleaner Production, 2013
and Consumption' was the overarching theme of the joint conference. This theme was chosen based o... more and Consumption' was the overarching theme of the joint conference. This theme was chosen based on the conviction that knowledge collaboration, participation, and learning are key to achieve sustainability in innovation, consumption, and (higher) education. Knowledge collaboration, participation, and learning are often linked to sustainable innovation and consumption. Education is crucial for changing society and for the challenge of sustainable development education starting at elementary schools, but also at secondary schools, and higher education is needed and indispensable. The joint ERSCP-EMSU 2010 Conference in Delft provided a unique opportunity to integrate progress in sustainable consumption, production and innovation with higher education and universities. This great opportunity was facilitated by joining the Delft University of Technology and TNO initiative to organize the 15th ERSCP and The Hague University of Applied Sciences initiative to organize the 6th EMSU Conference. The joint ERSCP-EMSU 2010 Conference attracted over 400 participants to Delft and nearly 100 in the parallel Conference in Cape Town. Over 350 contributions including paper presentations, poster presentations and workshops at the two conference sites were organized into the following topics: a.
European Journal of Engineering Education, 2013
Developed economies have become highly dependent on a range of technology metals with names such ... more Developed economies have become highly dependent on a range of technology metals with names such as neodymium and terbium. Stakeholders have warned of the impending scarcity of these critical materials. Difficulties in materials supply can affect the high-tech industries as well as the success of sustainable innovation strategies that are based on sophisticated technology. Industrial designers and engineers should therefore increase their awareness of the limits in availability of critical materials. In this paper, it is argued that materials’ criticality can give a fresh impetus to the higher education of industrial design engineers. It is important to train future professionals to apply a systems perspective to the process of technology innovation, enabling them to thrive under circumstances of constrained material choices. The conclusions outline ideas on how to weave the topic into existing educational programmes of future technology developers.