Education is rapidly evolving to bring sustainable tools and understanding to design students. Fortunately, in most institutions, the need to teach this discipline is no longer under debate. In the words of Debera Johnson, Pratt Design Incubator, and Designers Accord education chair, “ I know sustainability will become business as usual.”

Most of the educators I talk to are of the same mind: sustainable design ultimately should be integrated into design education as a straightforward component of good design, rather than being held apart as a specialty or a minor. However, until education makes a full transition, it may be necessary for some schools to be clear that they offer a sustainable design approach by designating it as a minor or specialty.

Currently, many schools offer a few courses that allow students to create a focus of sorts in sustainable design. An excellent listing of these courses can be found on the IDSA website. Some of these schools have special offerings that should not be overlooked. For example:

Thank you for that timely and important question. Assuming that you are studying industrial design because it is your passion, I can offer: Fourteen reasons why, in a time of ecological crisis, we need industrial designers more than ever.

1. A maturing profession
The industrial design profession has redefined itself numerous times over the past half-decade in response to cultural shifts, and is now integrating sustainable design thinking and methodologies. This growth is evident in recent conferences, journals and pledges such as The Designer’s Accord. As designers, we are doing important work, and you can help.

2. Good design is an imperative
Poor design results in waste that we cannot afford. Every poorly designed object will be underutilized, broken or discarded sooner than a well-designed object. Bring on the good industrial designers!

Good question. Each of these approaches makes a contribution to eco-design in a different way. One proposes a set of standards, another is a framework for long-range planning, and the third a collection of strategies and tools for specific decision-making.

Cradle to Cradle^SM (C2C) Protocol is a set of standards for environmentally benign products and systems. These standards are rooted Cradle to Cradle thinking, which is the long-understood principle that nature wastes nothing — everything is food for something else. Authors William McDonough and Michael Braungart propose that if we recycle everything with diligence and precision, we create “a positive paradigm where growth is good.” 

This important question establishes the basic framework for any design team seeking to integrate LCA methods. Following are some basic steps that I’ve seen work effectively.

Step 1: Take the temperature of your organization
Conduct some due diligence to determine what degree of appetite, if any, your company (or clients) may have for this approach. Without some basic client or management support, this type of effort could lead to awkward encounters if you try to ‘push’ ecodesign up the management structure. At the same time, don’t be afraid to become an ‘ecodesign champion’ if you believe ecodesign has the potential to add business value.

Step 2: Get up to speed on Okala
Depending on your knowledge to date, studying the Okala LCA methodology and the impact factor category data will help you sound – and be – more knowledgeable. For this you’ll need the Okala Guide, which is currently available through the IDSA.

Consider a number of ways an Okala LCA might be used in your group’s design process to help establish a competitive advantage. Options might range from product material reduction to a product take-back program. You may want to have this discussion with another team member who shares your views on the importance of LCA thinking.

Step 3: Do some market homework
Conduct some market category and/or competitive research. You may be able to locate some case studies or recent examples of product launches with an ecodesign emphasis or position. Examples: In the housewares industry, Illinois-based Design Ideas recently launched a new line of bath organizational accessories named EcoGen™ that incorporate PHBV; a bio-degradable, injection moldable resin. While relatively new, they plan to expand this sub-brand to other home product categories. And of course the Toyota Prius technology platform has been expanded to other models. This ecodesign marketing example demonstrates how to leverage an environmentally friendly technology through the extension of the brand qualifier Hybrid Synergy Drive™.