Investigation into the role of core industrial designers in ecodesign projects (original) (raw)

Integration of EcoDesign principles within small product design consultancies

2018

Each year in the UK (United Kingdom) hundreds of millions of consumer products are sold, leading to many millions of tonnes of waste being buried or burned annually. While there are many large businesses that produce consumer products, in the UK small product design consultancies (SDCs) make up approximately half of all employed designers. This thesis outlines an investigation into the absence of an EcoDesign agenda in product design briefs and how this might be changed in the future. In order to best establish the theoretical basis of the research, a comprehensive literature review was conducted into the practice of product designers, their relationship to society and the wider environment. In addition, existing tools and resources purporting to support product designers, with the implementation of EcoDesign projects, were analysed to understand the challenges associated with their design. Following this review, and the development of relevant research questions, a series of semi-s...

Effective ecodesign: finding a way forward for industry

1999

This paper states the findings and highlights the questions which have arisen from the initial stages of a collaborative research project in ecodesign, between Cranfield University and Electrolux UK. It discusses the initial findings arising from combining a critical analysis of the literature in this area with observations of industrial practice at Electrolux UK. It concludes that ecodesign at industrial design stages has under-utilised business potential. Future research should attempt to determine how ecodesign can be incorporated into industrial ...

Product innovation through ecodesign

International Journal of Sustainable Design

This paper shows how to develop eco-products using the Ecodesign approach. Three different product case studies show how to proceed in developing environmentally improved products. These case studies have been carried out in collaboration with industry and the identified product improvements have been realised in commercial products, which are now available on the market. The first case study is an alpine ski, the second is office equipment (Digital Pocket Memo (DPM)) and the third is a new Golf Swing Analyser. Obtaining green product concepts using the ECODESIGN Toolbox with and without having a reference product to start with are presented.

The Practice of Ecodesign: A Study of Small Product Design Consultancies

2010

This paper reports on an ongoing study that explores how UK based designers, in small design consultancies (SDCs), locate information and learn new skills. Semi-structured interviews were used to improve understanding of the context within which these designers operate and how their design process works. The interviews also helped to construct a clearer picture of what these designers understand by the term EcoDesign and how widely it is practiced. Collectively small design consultancies play a very important role in the design and creation of consumer products. SDCs make up approximately half of all employed designers and generate as much turnover as in-house design teams in the UK. The research has investigated the absence of an EcoDesign agenda in many design briefs and how this might be changed in the future. This paper will outline the constraints that designers work under and in particular the barriers that SDCs face when acquiring reliable information and learning new techniques. The paper also aims to explore ways in which designers could be more engaged by EcoDesign. Many important decisions are not taken by designers, but by their clients and managers who often control the general direction of design. However, in spite of these limitations designers can still be observed influencing outcomes, and inspiring others through their work. The paper will draw some conclusions on the reality of EcoDesign practice in UK based SDCs and outline the ways in which this could be changed in the near future.

Adopting ecodesign practices: case study of a midsized automotive supplier

Environmental Quality …, 2009

Ecodesign seeks environmentally friendly solutions in product design and development. It considers both economic and environmental aspects associated with the entire life cycle of products. The research presented in this article highlights some of the key factors influencing the adoption and implementation of ecodesign practices at manufacturing companies. The discussion focuses in particular on a case study illustrating how ecodesign is being incorporated into the design of products manufactured by a midsized automotive electronics supplier in Brazil.

Research perspectives in ecodesign

Design Science

Ecodesign has gained significant traction in recent years ranging from academic research to business applications at a global scale. Initial emphasis on the environmental aspect of design has evolved to include economic and social aspects, with projects ranging from small-scale products to large-scale industrial systems. In this paper, the authors re-analyse 10 of their major ecodesign research projects of the past ten years to identify five categories of challenges and promising future directions for ecodesign research. This paper is primarily a retrospective position paper based on the authors’ experience of actual design studies, providing also a relevant literature review and summary of design practices.

Success factors for integration of ecodesign in product development

Environmental Management and Health, 2002

On the basis of a literature review, 20 factors essential for successful integration of ecodesign in product development are presented in this paper. The success factors are structured according to six areas of concern: management, customer relationships, supplier relationships, development process, competence and motivation. By relating the factors to a number of product development elements that are generally claimed to be important for product development success, it is indicated that the integration of ecodesign to a great extent are related to the same elements. A few factors seem to be specific for the integration of ecodesign. These factors are related to competence and motivation. As many of the ecodesign integration success factors relate to those elements that are acknowledged to affect product development success, this implies that a company that manages product development well increases the likelihood of being successful when integrating ecodesign into product development.

Ecodesign

1996

Environmental degradation and concepts of 'sustainability' have recently become a focus of political, commercial and social concern. This thesis addresses one of the issues concerning human impact on the environment, namely the environmental awareness and action of those involved with design and development. This project provides an overview of designers' current attitudes to environmentally responsible design and investigates design that is perceived to be more environmentally responsible. The research was exploratory and qualitative in nature. The postal and telephone pilot surveys and the main study of 20 in-depth interviews were carried out with individuals involved in design and development in design consultancies and a range of design-based manufacturing companies within the UK. It was found that most designers were unaware of many of the issues surrounding environmentally responsible design. Few companies were including environmental criteria within design and dev...