Circular Economy Competencies for Design
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Background
2.1. Sustainability and Design for Circular Economy Competencies
2.1.1. Systems Thinking Competency
2.1.2. Anticipatory Competency
2.1.3. Normative Competency
2.1.4. Strategic Competency
2.1.5. Interpersonal Competency
2.2. Sustainability and Design for Circular Economy Competencies: An Overview
3. Research Method
3.1. Data Collection
3.2. Interviewees Profile and Selection
3.3. Data Analysis
4. Results
4.1. Circular Impact Assessment
- Circular Impact Assessment: Estimating the environmental impact of circular offerings on a system level over multiple use cycles to support decision-making during the design process.
4.2. Design for Recovery
- Design for Recovery: Incorporating recovery strategies during the design process while taking into account multiple use cycles.
4.3. Design for Multiple Use Cycles
- Design for Multiple Use Cycles: Foreseeing the consequences of prolonged use and multiple use cycles.
4.4. Circular Business Models
- Circular Business Models: Concurrently developing the circular product, service, and business model.
4.5. Circular User Engagement
- Circular User Engagement: Engaging users in the use and the (end-of-use) return of products.
4.6. Circular Economy Collaboration
- Circular Economy Collaboration: Identifying, mapping, facilitating, and managing the collaboration between external stakeholders in operationalizing a circular business model.
4.7. Circular Economy Communication
- Circular Economy Communication: Telling coherent stories about the circular offerings.
5. Discussion
6. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Competencies | Sustainability | Design for Circular Economy | Circular Economy Concepts and Methods |
---|---|---|---|
Systems thinking competency | “(…) the ability to collectively analyze complex systems across different domains (society, environment, economy, etc.) and across different scales (local to global) (…).” [19] (p. 207) | Concepts Methods
| |
Anticipatory competency | “the ability to collectively analyze, evaluate, and craft rich ‘pictures’ of the future related to sustainability issues and sustainability problem-solving frameworks” [19] (p. 209) | Concepts
Methods | |
Normative competency | “the ability to collectively map, specify, apply, reconcile, and negotiate sustainability values, principles, goals, and targets ” [19] (p. 209) | Concepts
Methods | |
Strategic competency | “the ability to collectively design and implement interventions, transitions, and transformative governance strategies toward sustainability.” [19] (p. 210) | Concepts
Methods
| |
Interpersonal competency | “the ability to facilitate collaborative and participatory problem solving, while ensuring a respective and empathetic exchange of perspectives and actions and dealing with conflict resolution.” [19] (p. 211) | Concepts
Methods
|
Topics | Sample Questions |
---|---|
Defining circular economy | How would you characterize the circular economy? |
Circular solution | Please elaborate on the circular solution that you have been working on? What did you do in practice/concretely to develop the circular solution? |
Challenges | What hindered you in this process? How did the hurdles prevent you from completing the case? |
Support | Which methods/tools did you use in this design process? When? What were you missing that could have helped you in terms of mindsets, knowledge? |
Vision on the role of designers | How do you see the role of designers in (transition towards) a circular economy? |
Participant Number | Job Title | Circular Value Proposition | Company Size |
---|---|---|---|
1. | Cofounder | Electronic devices as a service | Micro |
2. | Managing Designer | Concept proposal for circular street furniture | Small |
3. | Design Engineer | House style of electronic devices as a service | Micro |
4. | Senior Industrial Designer | Reusable product packaging | Small |
5. | (Product Design) Researcher | Circular product and value proposition design in the mattress industry | Medium |
6. | Founder/Owner | Design of circular interior and furniture | Micro |
7 | Operational Manager | Waste repurposing solutions | Micro |
8. | Resource Efficiency Manager | Designing modular electronic devices and considering access-based models | Medium |
9 | Sustainable and Circular Product Designer | Sustainable packaging using mono-material | Micro |
10. | Founder/Owner | Mobility solution using bio-based materials and access-based models | Micro |
11. | Founder/Owner | Modular office supply | Micro |
12. | Game Designer & Consultant | Designing and manufacturing a strategy game about material resource-efficiency | Micro |
13. | Senior Design Strategist | Circular design propositions within a corporate that manufactures household appliances & healthcare products | Large |
14. | Design Director (a) Design Engineer (b) | Circular reusable packaging system | Medium |
15. | Senior Director, Head of Design | Circular propositions in electronics corporate business | Large |
16. | Industrial Designer | Assessing and improving repairability of vacuum cleaners sold by a corporate | Large |
17. | Industrial Designer | Modular product-service system for personal care | Independent project1 |
18. | Concept Design Manager | Modular train interior | Large |
First Order Themes | Second Order Themes |
---|---|
| Circular Impact Assessment |
| Design for Recovery |
| Designing for Multiple Use Cycles |
| Circular Business Model |
| Circular User Engagement |
| Circular Economy Collaboration |
| Circular Economy Communication |
Competencies | Design for Circular Economy | |
---|---|---|
Literature | Practice | |
Systems Thinking competency |
| |
Anticipatory competency |
| |
Normative competency |
| |
Strategic competency |
| |
Interpersonal competency |
|
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Share and Cite
Sumter, D.; de Koning, J.; Bakker, C.; Balkenende, R. Circular Economy Competencies for Design. Sustainability 2020, 12, 1561. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041561
Sumter D, de Koning J, Bakker C, Balkenende R. Circular Economy Competencies for Design. Sustainability. 2020; 12(4):1561. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041561
Chicago/Turabian StyleSumter, Deborah, Jotte de Koning, Conny Bakker, and Ruud Balkenende. 2020. "Circular Economy Competencies for Design" Sustainability 12, no. 4: 1561. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041561
APA StyleSumter, D., de Koning, J., Bakker, C., & Balkenende, R. (2020). Circular Economy Competencies for Design. Sustainability, 12(4), 1561. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041561