The role of product designers in the transition towards the circular economy: A reality check

Deborah Sumter; Conny Bakker; Ruud Balkenende

doi:10.3233/978-1-61499-820-4-391

The role of product designers in the transition towards the circular economy: A reality check

Deborah Sumter, Conny Bakker, Ruud Balkenende

Circular Product Design

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceedings/Edited volume › Conference contribution › Scientific › peer-review

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Abstract

This paper examines the role of product designers in the transition towards the circular economy. Both scientific and grey literature show remarkable optimism when it comes to role strategic and coordinating role designers could play in this transition process. However, there has been little examination of the actual role and influence designers have in practice. In this paper we review the roles that designers play in the transition towards a circular economy according to literature. Through semi-structured interviews, we uncover the views of designers themselves, which we then use to make a comparison. Our main conclusion is that designers experience a lack of knowledge and/or work in predetermined solution spaces, which prevents them from taking on the role that is expected in literature.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Plate Product Lifetimes And The Environment 2017
Subtitle of host publication	Conference Proceedings
Editors	C. Bakker, R. Mugge
Place of Publication	Amsterdam
Publisher	IOS Press
Pages	391-396
Number of pages	6
ISBN (Electronic)	978-1-61499-820-4
ISBN (Print)	978-1-61499-819-8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3233/978-1-61499-820-4-391
Publication status	Published - 2017
Event	PLATE 2017: Product Lifetimes and the Environment - Delft, Netherlands Duration: 8 Nov 2017 → 10 Nov 2017

Publication series

Name	Research in Design Series
Publisher	IOS Press
Volume	9

Conference

Conference	PLATE 2017
Country/Territory	Netherlands
City	Delft
Period	8/11/17 → 10/11/17

Keywords

Designer's role
Product design
Practice
Circular economy
Transition

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.3233/978-1-61499-820-4-391

RIDS9-0391Final published version, 1.32 MBLicence: CC BY-NC

Cite this

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title = "The role of product designers in the transition towards the circular economy: A reality check",

abstract = "This paper examines the role of product designers in the transition towards the circular economy. Both scientific and grey literature show remarkable optimism when it comes to role strategic and coordinating role designers could play in this transition process. However, there has been little examination of the actual role and influence designers have in practice. In this paper we review the roles that designers play in the transition towards a circular economy according to literature. Through semi-structured interviews, we uncover the views of designers themselves, which we then use to make a comparison. Our main conclusion is that designers experience a lack of knowledge and/or work in predetermined solution spaces, which prevents them from taking on the role that is expected in literature.",

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pages = "391--396",

editor = "C. Bakker and R. Mugge",

booktitle = "Plate Product Lifetimes And The Environment 2017",

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note = "PLATE 2017 : Product Lifetimes and the Environment ; Conference date: 08-11-2017 Through 10-11-2017",

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Sumter, D, Bakker, C & Balkenende, R 2017, The role of product designers in the transition towards the circular economy: A reality check. in C Bakker & R Mugge (eds), Plate Product Lifetimes And The Environment 2017: Conference Proceedings. Research in Design Series, vol. 9, IOS Press, Amsterdam, pp. 391-396, PLATE 2017, Delft, Netherlands, 8/11/17. https://doi.org/10.3233/978-1-61499-820-4-391

The role of product designers in the transition towards the circular economy: A reality check. / Sumter, Deborah; Bakker, Conny ; Balkenende, Ruud.
Plate Product Lifetimes And The Environment 2017: Conference Proceedings. ed. / C. Bakker; R. Mugge. Amsterdam: IOS Press, 2017. p. 391-396 (Research in Design Series; Vol. 9).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceedings/Edited volume › Conference contribution › Scientific › peer-review

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AB - This paper examines the role of product designers in the transition towards the circular economy. Both scientific and grey literature show remarkable optimism when it comes to role strategic and coordinating role designers could play in this transition process. However, there has been little examination of the actual role and influence designers have in practice. In this paper we review the roles that designers play in the transition towards a circular economy according to literature. Through semi-structured interviews, we uncover the views of designers themselves, which we then use to make a comparison. Our main conclusion is that designers experience a lack of knowledge and/or work in predetermined solution spaces, which prevents them from taking on the role that is expected in literature.

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The role of product designers in the transition towards the circular economy: A reality check

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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Circular Economy Competencies for Design

Cite this