D40043-1 - SUSTAINABLE ADVANCED DESIGN

1_DESCRIPTION

The interdisciplinary course proposes a methodological path, both theoretical and practical, in which product and industrial design respectively coordinate experimental, applicative and prototyping processes, leveraging the ability to visualise complex processes and generate product solutions. The course contributes to the general objectives of the Design degree programme regarding methodological and design training. In particular, students will deepen their knowledge of methodologies and design processes from ideation to prototype for industrial and craft products, in line with the 3rd-year objectives of the Product Design curriculum.

Sustainability-oriented design is currently a disciplinary field enriched by numerous project contributions and investigations that can be summarised in four macro-categories: product innovation, product-service system innovation, social context innovation, socio-technical system innovation (Ceschin & Gaziulusoy, 2016). Sustainability, Technology, Innovation represent three shared keys to the design approach that will be required in the near future.

The course aims to provide a systematic working method, grounded in a solid theoretical framework and applied to the selected experimentation. Each module will carry out its own product and process innovation experimentation on design objects for outdoor spaces, within an integrated and shared vision that underlines the need to redesign component life cycles, proposing a common experimentation, explored through specific focuses on how smart urban furniture can contribute to mitigation and adaptation strategies to extreme climate events in outdoor spaces.

The experimentation will be developed through intermediate review steps on project progress, producing executive projects at appropriate scales, in collaboration with a sector company that will follow and transfer know-how throughout the process.

2_COURSE PROGRAMME

The course focuses on the design of sustainable urban furniture systems that can also act as active climate mitigation devices, with particular attention to the conscious choice of materials and resources, compatible with local availability. The systems will be able to address the challenges of digital and green transition, promoting new fruitful relationships between human settlements and the environment (Magnaghi, 2010) .

As regards the SAD course, low-carbon materials and technologies will be promoted and reversible design processes will be adopted, favoring modular components that are easy to assemble and disassemble.The objective is to train designers capable of intervening in the contemporary urban context with adaptive, sustainable and responsible solutions, able to concretely respond to environmental and climatic challenges. The smart urban furniture system project will be developed in collaboration with a sector company, to let students learn its know-how and receive continuous feedback throughout all operational phases up to prototyping.

The teaching structure foresees an initial theoretical part (lectures and seminars) and a second applied, laboratory-based part, where projects will be advanced from concept to prototyping. Technical seminars by companies may be integrated into the lecture corpus.

For the theoretical part, the main aspects covered will concern:

• Introduction to the course
• Prolusion: the role of design in the digital and green transition
• Innovative approaches of sustainable product design: intervention strategies (Design for Disassembly, Design for durability, Design for recycling)
• Innovative approaches of sustainable product design: local/circular materials, from other supply chains, low energy
• The role of design for heritage
• Sustainable urban furniture and active devices for outdoor spaces
• Additive manufacturing and prototyping

The lectures may be complemented by any technical workshops by companies interested in making a contribution on the topic

The practical/laboratory part will mainly take place in the classroom under the supervision of the teaching staff and will conclude with a final workshop. Through a series of four scheduled assignments, which will be specified in an exercise guide, students will be led to the completion of their final project. The assignments/intermediate assessments are aimed at preparing a series of projects, from concept to prototype, the initial part of which will be common to the integrated course and will concern the field of cultural heritage.

The design experience will be common to both courses, with specific thematic insights in relation to the simulation of the development and proposal of a product to a company.

We propose an applied experiment with a strong methodological rigor, which accompanies students from concept to prototyping of objects and systems for public space. The experimental dimension will be accompanied by the social and cultural dimension, through the adoption of participatory and inclusion-oriented practices.

3_EXPECTED RESULTS

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of the course, students will have acquired knowledge and understanding of:

1. theoretical aspects related to the disciplines and topics addressed, concerning theories and models on Industrial and Industrial and Artisanal Product Design and Advanced Sustainable Design;
2. specialist aspects related to the development of the design concept of objects, systems, services, and to the development of the technical/executive project;
3. the application of design methodological aspects: from basic design to ergonomics, from systemic design for social sustainability (design for all) to environmental sustainability (ecodesign).

Applying knowledge and understanding

Students will acquire a scientific and recognised working method enabling them to relate the principles and methodologies of industrial and artisanal product design and Advanced Sustainable Design, defining the objectives of a design problem and developing an executive proposal that innovatively transfers such strategies, in line with the programme’s objectives. They will also understand the fundamentals of Industrial Product Design methodology, analysing product feasibility, sustainable use of materials, appropriate production processes, and correct communication methodologies.

Making judgements

Students will develop critical judgement skills, grounded in the theoretical framework provided and in project experimentation and prototyping. They will therefore gain and re-elaborate knowledge on:

• theoretical aspects related to the relationship Sustainability_Technology_Innovation;
• technical/executive aspects linked to the choice of sustainable, assemblable/disassemblable solutions with low environmental impact materials;
• critical aspects concerning the ability to define the design problem considering cultural aspects, resources, constraints, and user characteristics;
• the ability to work in teams and coordinate with specialists inside and outside production contexts to achieve effective results.

Communication skills

The acquired working method will allow students to organise the presentation of their solution through new representation/communication systems, integrating feedback systems, based on previous analytical and design evaluations, with a clear understanding of the final user. The course structure and final assessment are also aimed at developing communication skills towards both private and institutional stakeholders.

Learning skills

Students will be able to autonomously apply the skills acquired during lectures, developing self-training and self-updating abilities. They will also acquire terminologies, languages and descriptive methods that characterise Industrial and Industrial and Artisanal Product Design and Advanced Sustainable Design.