How do you keep your industrial design sustainable?

1 Define your goals

Before you start sketching or prototyping, you need to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve with your product. What problem are you solving? Who are you designing for? How will your product benefit them and the society? How will your product affect the environment and the life cycle of materials? These questions will help you define your goals and criteria for sustainability, and guide your design decisions throughout the process.

2 Choose your materials wisely

One of the most crucial aspects of sustainable industrial design is the selection of materials. You should aim to use materials that are renewable, recycled, biodegradable, or low-impact, and avoid materials that are toxic, non-recyclable, or scarce. You should also consider the sources, transportation, and processing of your materials, and how they affect the carbon footprint, energy consumption, and waste generation of your product. You should also look for certifications or labels that indicate the environmental and social standards of your materials, such as FSC, Fairtrade, or Cradle to Cradle.

3 Optimize your design

Another important aspect of sustainable industrial design is the optimization of your design. You should strive to make your product as efficient, durable, and adaptable as possible, and reduce the amount of materials, components, and energy needed. You should also think about how your product can be easily repaired, reused, or recycled, and how you can minimize the negative impacts of disposal or end-of-life. You should also consider how your product can be integrated with other products or systems, and how it can promote sustainable behaviors or lifestyles among users.

4 Test and evaluate your design

Once you have a prototype or a final product, you should test and evaluate your design against your sustainability goals and criteria. You should use various methods and tools to measure and analyze the performance, functionality, usability, and desirability of your product, as well as the environmental and social impacts and benefits. You should also collect feedback from users, stakeholders, and experts, and use it to improve your design or identify areas for further development. You should also document and communicate your design process and outcomes, and share your learnings and best practices with other designers and the public.

5 Keep learning and improving

Sustainable industrial design is not a one-time project, but a continuous process of learning and improving. You should always be aware of the latest trends, technologies, and innovations in your field, and how they can help you create more sustainable products. You should also be open to new challenges, opportunities, and collaborations, and seek to expand your knowledge and skills in sustainability. You should also be humble and critical, and acknowledge the limitations and trade-offs of your design, and how you can overcome them in the future.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?