How do you evaluate the sustainability of your design prototypes?

2 Social Life Cycle Assessment

Social life cycle assessment (SLCA) is a complementary method to LCA that evaluates the social and socio-economic impacts of a product or service on workers, consumers, local communities, and society at large. SLCA can help you understand the social implications of your design, identify potential risks and opportunities for improvement, and align your design with ethical and human rights standards. To conduct an SLCA, you need to follow a similar process as LCA, but focus on the social aspects of your product or service, such as health and safety, labor rights, fair trade, gender equality, and cultural diversity. You can use frameworks such as UNEP/SETAC Guidelines for SLCA, or tools such as Social Hotspots Database or SOFI to perform an SLCA.

3 Circular Design Framework

Circular design framework is a holistic approach to design that aims to create products or services that are restorative and regenerative by design, meaning that they preserve or enhance natural and social capital, eliminate waste and pollution, and keep materials and resources in use for as long as possible. Circular design framework can help you rethink your design from a linear to a circular perspective, and explore innovative ways to create value for users and stakeholders while reducing environmental and social impacts. To apply the circular design framework, you need to consider four key principles: design out waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use, regenerate natural systems, and create positive impact. You can use tools such as the Circular Design Guide or the Circularity Toolkit to apply the circular design framework.

4 User Testing

User testing is a crucial method to evaluate the usability, functionality, and desirability of your design prototypes from the perspective of your target users. User testing can help you validate your design assumptions, identify user needs and preferences, and collect feedback and suggestions for improvement. To conduct user testing, you need to recruit representative users, prepare realistic scenarios and tasks, observe and record user behavior and reactions, and analyze and synthesize the data. You can use tools such as UserTesting, UsabilityHub, or Lookback to conduct user testing.

5 Impact Evaluation

Impact evaluation is a method to measure the effects of your design prototypes on the intended outcomes and goals, such as social, environmental, or economic indicators. Impact evaluation can help you demonstrate the value and impact of your design, justify your design decisions, and communicate your design results to stakeholders. To conduct impact evaluation, you need to define your impact hypothesis, select your impact indicators, collect baseline and follow-up data, compare the data with a counterfactual or a control group, and estimate the causal attribution of your design. You can use tools such as Impact Mapper, Kumu, or Theory of Change to conduct impact evaluation.

6 Reflection and Learning

Reflection and learning is a method to review and evaluate your own design process and practice, and learn from your successes and failures. Reflection and learning can help you improve your design skills, knowledge, and mindset, and develop a more sustainable and responsible design approach. To reflect and learn from your design prototypes, you need to ask yourself critical questions, such as: What did you learn from your design process? What worked well and what did not? How did your design prototypes address the sustainability challenges? How could you improve your design prototypes? What are the next steps for your design project? You can use tools such as the Reflective Practitioner's Toolkit or the Design Council's Double Diamond to reflect and learn from your design prototypes.