ESPR Insights 3
Design's shift to material science and life cycle analysis, for a deep understanding of sustainability.
Although the user has always been at the forefront, even at the founding of the Faculty of Design at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw fifty years ago, contemporary design education now sees a profound shift toward prioritizing social and ecological impacts. Designers are moving beyond mere aesthetics to consider the entire product lifecycle, energy balances, and the fundamental question of how a product affects both society and the planet. This evolution marks a return to essential values, where repairability and maintenance are prioritized, echoing an era when durability was a matter of necessity.
As a long-standing juror for the Green Product Award, I have observed that regardless of the category – whether it is architecture, mobility, fashion, or packaging - material engineering plays a pivotal role. While often treated as a separate category, material choice is the underlying factor determining success for producers, students, and startups alike. This realization led through a unique partnership to the direct integration of material science into the design curriculum.
To bridge the gap between theory and practice, the Academy established a collaboration with the Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering at the Warsaw University of Technology. This exchange allows design students to collaborate with scientists who possess advanced expertise and provide access to laboratories. Conversely, engineering students are introduced to the professional reality of industrial design, as surprisingly, the nature of this profession is not yet common knowledge at technical universities. This cross-disciplinary approach helps future engineers to envision how their technical expertise can be practically implemented in real-world products.
I personally experienced the global nature of this trend several years ago, while attending a material engineering conference in Cambridge. Back then, it was already clear that I was not the only designer present, as this tendency was already becoming well-established. Today, it is unavoidable for design students to have a deep understanding of materials to match them correctly with specific technologies and applications, ranging from outdoor equipment to electronic devices.
However, we must remain critical, as "biodegradable" is not always the best path. For products like electronic housings, biodegradable materials can be too fragile, making the product less sustainable. In such cases, designing for disassembly and recycling is far more impactful. This specific misunderstanding is something we frequently observe in submissions to the Green Product Award.
Material engineering is becoming more vital than classical mechanics at modern design schools. Ultimately, designers must distinguish between genuine value and greenwashing. The ecological answer is rarely simple. When asked, whether a fast-decomposing material or a recyclable one is better, the professional response is often "it depends". The right choice hinges on production scale and the organization of the entire lifecycle. Designers must possess the analytical tools and critical mindset to avoid marketing traps and ensure their solutions are truly effective.
Written by Dr. Robert Pludra
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