Unit 6-D (sustainable design) Flashcards
What is sustainable design?
Designing products that minimise negative impacts on the environment and society while conserving resources for future generations
What sort of materials should be selected for sustainable design?
Renewable
Recyclable
Biodegradable
What is a real-world example of a product using sustainable material selection?
Adidas designed shoes made from recycled ocean plastic
Where is energy used in a products life cycle?
Production
Operation / Use
Disposal
What is a real-world example of a product which has been designed to be energy efficient?
Electric cars such as the tesla model 3
The LED uses 80% less energy and lasts much longer
What are the key considerations for sustainable design?
Material Selection
Energy efficiency
Waste Reduction
How can products be designed to reduce waste?
Designing using modular components so they can be easily replaced
Manufacture using CNC machines
What is a real-world example of a product which has been designed to reduce waste?
The Fairphone has a modular design so parts can be replaced or repaired without throwing the whole item away
What is life cycle thinking?
Considering the whole life cycle: raw material extraction, manufacturing, distribution, use and disposal
What is a real-life example of life cycle thinking?
Apple’s product recycling program
What is a circular economy?
Products are designed to be part of a closed loop, materials are reused and repurposed instead of sent to landfill
What is a real-world example of a product supporting a circular economy?
Patagonia encourages repair before buying a new garment
How can pollution be minimized from products?
Avoiding the use of VOCs in paints which cause pollution and health damage
What is a real-world example of a company committing to minimize pollution?
IKEA committed to only using water-based paints and low impact materials
What is a real-world example of a company committing to manufacture ethically?
Lush Cosmetics:
Ethically sourced ingredients
Avoid animal testing
Minimize packaging
Promote sustainability and fairtrade
What are some more examples of sustainable design?
Solar phone chargers
Ecovative mushroom based packaging
Low flow shower heads
Pallet wood furniture
What is minimalist design?
Reducing the amount of material used without compromising functionality
How can minimalist design be achieved?
Streamlined designs
Innovative use of materials
What is optimised manufacturing?
Precise cutting such as CNC machines
Additive manufacture
How can a designer achieve material efficiency?
Minimalist design
Optimised manufacturing
What are recycled materials?
Materials which have previously been used and processed
What are renewable resources?
Resources which will replenish themselves such as bamboo or some bioplastics
How can a designer use modular design?
Interchangeable parts
Customisation
How can a designer consider a sustainable end of life?
Design for disassembly
Recyclability
