Design for Sustainability Long Term Solutions for a Complex Problem
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- Design
- Sustainability
- Product Life Cycle
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Abstract
This article is aimed at an audience of designers and non-designers that make design related decisions. A background of sustainability is presented and some relevant approaches are discussed in order to understand its meaning and terminology. How sustainability can be measured is presented as well. Then, three approaches to design for sustainability are reviewed that cover from high level decision making to more detailed design guidelines of goods and services. These are The Natural Step, Cradle to Cradle Design, and Life Cycle Design. The specific characteristics of these approaches are dealt with, with a focus on how they should be implemented so that they actually enable sustainability. Then, a sort of integration is proposed, in order to clarify specific core aspects that shall be considered when making design related decisions for sustainability. Finally, a focus is put on Chile as a country that is working on its sustainable development. Decisions related to products can be more or less sustainable, and design plays an important role here. Good design decisions for sustainability can be made, both for products made locally and imported.
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References
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