Today, backpacks and duffel bags are often designed with a focus on a specific area of use, which makes it difficult to use them on other occasions. A clear example where the differences are noticeable is between functional mountaineer bags and urban bags. It is not uncommon for people staying in these environments to have far beyond two bags in their possession. Overconsumption is harmful to the environment, especially when it is from an industry that is pursued with poor working conditions and dangerous emissions in nature. Therefore, multifunctionality and sustainable design have been of high priority when the products in this project were developed. In this thesis, two models of bags have been developed through a human-centered design process. A large number of user interviews and expert interviews, as well as a focus group, laid the foundation for the requirements and needs of the bags. Spektrum’s company values, as well as the identity of their current products, were interpreted to create brand recognition in the new products. Idea generation was performed through various creative sessions, prototyping, and through a workshop. Evaluation and concept selection was performed by representatives from the target group in the form of personas, as well as by Spektrum. Finally, detailed technical drawings of the concepts were created in Adobe Illustrator. The first model is a backpack designed to work just as well on the mountain as in the city. The other model is a duffel bag that can be carried both on the back and in the hand. It is also designed to perform well in both mountain and urban environments. Both bags are made of polyester from recycled PET bottles and the material is controlled and approved by the highly rated environmental certification bluesign®. The metal parts of the bags are made of recycled aluminum. Both models are adjustable to fit all users within the 5th to 95th percentile. The thesis resulted in the ordering of two alpha prototypes of each model, factory-made by my technical drawings. According to Spektrum, the designs have created great interest among retailers and company shareholders. Both models will, therefore, be put into production and released to the market within two years.

Thesis (DTech (Design))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016. / This thesis is an investigation into environmental sustainability in the South African fashion industry, with a particular focus on the role of design therein. The fashion and textile industry is a significant contributor to the South African economy and a major user of human and natural resources. It is through the use of resources – natural, constructed and human – that the industry is also supposedly damaging to the natural environment and the people working within it. Notable authors on environmentally sustainable design and, in particular, environmentally sustainable fashion design, seem to suggest that a holistic approach to environmental sustainability is fundamental to the implementation thereof. Design has the ability to direct change, and thus design and designers have the potential to drive holistic sustainable practices in the fashion system.The question this research therefore poses is what the role of environmental sustainability should be in a design-driven approach in the South African fashion industry; interrogated through an exploratory and descriptive case study. The case study consists of three purposively selected sub-units that operate within an environmentally sustainable focus in their fashion businesses, and that design, produce, and retail fashion products. The aim of the research was to explore, through a snapshot of the South African fashion system, the implementation of environmental sustainability in the fashion industry in South Africa, in order to determine what role fashion design practice can have in developing environmental sustainability in the fashion system.The most notable finding of the research highlights the immense difficulty of operating as a fashion business from an environmentally sustainable focus in South Africa due to the lack (and unsuitability) of resources that can be considered environmentally sustainable. The declining textile industry of South Africa makes it either almost impossible, or very costly, to work within an environmentally sustainable framework, and is a major impediment in the implementation of environmental sustainability in praxis. Therefore, those businesses that decide to operate within an environmentally sustainable framework do so because of inherent personal values and ethics.The second aspect identified in the survey of scholarship and underpinned by the findings, is a need for a transformative approach with regard to design praxis and how design praxis can influence consumer eco-consciousness. The research concludes with a recommended framework that suggests a holistic and integrated approach to design-driven environmental sustainability in the South African fashion industry, and elaborates on the role of the fashion designer in the implementation of environmental sustainability in the fashion system. The holistic and integrated approach should extend into fashion design education, requiring a fundamental shift in current fashion design education in South Africa. / University of Johannesburg

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / To achieve a green building, special attention is required to the project stage once it will give the guidelines for the implementation, operation and maintenance of the building. Designers play a key role in the sustainable principles of the buildings, and the project must be oriented, since its beginning, to reach this goal. This can provide some changes to the entire production chain of the built environment. In Brazil, there is an inertia to the development of sustainable projects. Although there are professionals engaged in environmental movements, sustainable actions are just beginning. Thus, the incorporation of environmental demands to the design process became urgent. Thereby, this research proposes to investigate about the design of sustainable residential projects. The purpose of this research is to perform a study about the difficulties faced in the project process of certificated sustainable residential buildings, specifically with regards to the first category of the Technical Reference of the AQUA certification, which is the object of this study. In this context, this work seeks to identify how designers apply sustainable concepts in the project stage of residential green buildings, in order to implement a simplified methodology to facilitate its inclusion into the first category of the AQUA Process. The end result of this work will be the development of guidelines for the design of sustainable residential projects, based on the criteria from AQUA\'s first category. This will collaborate for a better understanding of this technical reference component and may also assist companies and designers who have not yet completed or started the certification process. Difficulties could be minimized and consequently the certification process of residential sustainable buildings projects will become easier. / Para se obter uma construção sustentável é necessária atenção especial à fase de concepção de projetos, uma vez que esta dará as diretrizes para a execução, operação e manutenção da edificação. Os projetistas desempenham papel fundamental na concepção dos princípios de sustentabilidade dos edifícios e, o projeto deve ser orientado desde o início a esse objetivo, ajudando a modificar toda a cadeia produtiva do ambiente construído. No Brasil, em geral, há uma inércia para a elaboração de projetos sustentáveis, e apesar de existirem profissionais engajados em movimentos ambientalistas, é muito incipiente. Assim, torna-se urgente a incorporação das novas demandas ambientais ao processo de projeto. Dessa forma, nesta pesquisa se propõe investigar a respeito da concepção de projetos habitacionais sustentáveis. A temática central dessa proposta está voltada para a realização de um estudo sobre as dificuldades enfrentadas no processo de projeto de edifícios habitacionais certificados, especificamente com relação à Categoria 1 do Referencial Técnico da Certificação AQUA, objeto de estudo deste trabalho. Neste contexto, busca-se compreender a percepção dos profissionais quanto à aplicação dos requisitos de sustentabilidade no projeto de edifícios habitacionais, a fim de implementar uma metodologia simplificada para viabilizar o enquadramento destes dentro da categoria 1 Relação do edifício com o entorno - do Processo AQUA. O resultado final deste trabalho será a elaboração de diretrizes para a concepção de projetos habitacionais sustentáveis, tomando como base os requisitos propostos na Categoria Relação do edifícios com o seu entorno . O que colaborará para uma melhor compreensão deste componente do referencial técnico, podendo ainda, auxiliar empresas e projetistas que ainda não completaram ou não iniciaram o processo de certificação. Minimizando assim, as dificuldades e, facilitando a certificação de projetos de edifícios habitacionais ao Processo AQUA. / Mestre em Engenharia Civil

This thesis explores the nexus between landscape design processes and the conservation of wildlife diversity. Extinction of earth’s unique and diverse animal species is progressing at unprecedented rates, due to humanity’s profound alteration of the natural landscape. Scientific literature increasingly points towards opportunities in the urban and landscape design fields to this issue. Unfortunately, the science and needs of wildlife are rarely integrated in rigorous ways in the planning and design of human landscapes. This gap in professional practice protocols and regulatory frameworks in much of the western world is explored and raises questions about how design can successfully protect, restore, and even re-create viable habitat and linkages for wildlife that is integrated with human landscape. Australia has modeled new integrated wildlife-centric design approaches and projects there demonstrate accumulated expertise in the specific area of wildlife habitat design. Through a case study of Australia’s Alice Springs Desert Park, I argue that balancing human and wildlife needs at every step of the design and building process is necessary for successful wildlife habitat design. This integrated approach does not view wildlife and humans as independent, but rather as two interdependent habitat participants that must coexist to ensure the future of both.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-18T12:52:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTACAO Marcio Guimaraes.pdf: 18198540 bytes, checksum: bfe06bf8d2678082b840343857a98d1c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-07-19 / This dissertation aims at finding answers to the question of how design can contribute to the sustainable development of craft production. The solutions adopted by researchers working on extension projects and design research as well as actions taken by managers and consultants who work in institutions that support this sector to equip guidelines supporting sustainable production were analyzed in order to reach the answers, proposing to articulate a reflection on the relationships between recent theories of development and the role of designer as agent provocateur behavior change and sustainable practices in artisanal production in Maranhão context. In order to equip guidelines aimed at sustainable production, the survey conducted by analyzing data collected along with a group of craftworkers Mulheres de Fibra in São Luís, State of Maranhão, enabling a categorization of procedures that contributed to the sustainable development of handicraft production and that can be replicated in other groups and communities. / A presente dissertação se propõe a buscar respostas para a questão de como o design pode contribuir para o desenvolvimento sustentável da produção artesanal. Para isso, analisou-se na literatura, as soluções adotadas por pesquisadores atuantes em projetos de extensão e pesquisa em design e as ações desenvolvidas por gestores e consultores que atuam junto às instituições que apoiam este setor, propondo articular uma reflexão sobre as relações existentes entre as recentes teorias de desenvolvimento e a atuação do designer como agente provocador de mudanças de comportamento e de práticas sustentáveis na produção artesanal no contexto maranhense. A fim de instrumentalizar diretrizes voltadas à sustentabilidade da produção, a pesquisa, realizada através da análise de dados levantados no Grupo Artesanal Mulheres de Fibra em São Luís, Estado do Maranhão, possibilitou uma categorização de procedimentos que contribuem para o desenvolvimento sustentável da produção artesanal, e que podem ser replicados em outros grupos e comunidades.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-18T12:52:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Camila Andrade dos Santos.pdf: 3051282 bytes, checksum: c2dd7f32991927080fea6030af6242b1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-05-29 / For Design, the raw material chosen in the project, sometimes come from non-renewable natural resources, is the starting point for the production of any product. The increased production of goods, driven by the logic of ever increasing consumption, has implied in the use of more inputs, which is reflected in the increased exploitation of environmental resources. This chain of exploitation of natural resources has been the subject of criticism in several areas of knowledge, cause the numerous environmental problems identified worldwide. Considering the problems created by this situation, studies on Design, that taking for object of analysis the relationship between Design and development of products based on alternative raw materials, with less impact to the environment must be thinking as necessary. Taking the question of the relationship between Design and environmental sustainability as a central axis, the present work, using the methodological approach of ethnographic design, seeks to reflect on the potential use of pescada amarela (Cynoscion acoupa) as an alternative raw material for the development of products with low environmental impact, contributing to reduction of such waste in the environment. / Para o Design, a matéria-prima pensada no projeto, por vezes oriunda de recursos naturais não renováveis, é o ponto de partida para a produção de qualquer produto. O aumento da produção de bens, orientada pela lógica do consumo cada vez crescente, tem implicado na utilização de mais insumos, o que se reflete no aumento da exploração dos recursos ambientais. Essa cadeia de exploração de recursos naturais tem sido objeto de críticas em diversas áreas do conhecimento, em virtude dos inúmeros problemas ambientais identificados em escala mundial. Considerando os problemas gerados por essa situação, estudos no âmbito do Design, que tomam para objeto de análise a relação entre o design e o desenvolvimento de produtos a partir de matérias-primas alternativas às comumente utilizadas, de menor impacto para o meio ambiente, se fazem necessários. Tomando a questão da relação entre design e sustentabilidade ambiental como eixo central, a presente dissertação, utilizando a abordagem metodológica do design etnográfico, procura refletir sobre as potencialidades do uso do couro da pescada amarela (Cynoscion acoupa) como matéria-prima alternativa para o desenvolvimento de produtos de baixo impacto ambiental, contribuindo para redução do descarte desse tipo de resíduo no meio ambiente.

La thèse contribue à une meilleure connaissance du processus d’éco-conception de produits, notamment dans la prise en compte de considérations environnementales en amont du processus de conception. Centrée sur la phase conceptuelle, la motivation principale de ce travail est d’intervenir là où les décisions du concepteur ont une grande influence environnementale. En effet, un grand nombre d’auteurs convient que les premières étapes du processus de conception peuvent efficacement prévenir jusqu’à 80% des impacts environnementaux. Cependant, il existe un grand nombre d’obstacles qui empêchent l’intégration de considérations environnementales, surtout s’il s’agit d’un nouveau produit. Notre problématique a mis en évidence ces obstacles à travers deux types de verrous. En premier lieu, des verrous méthodologiques rencontrés principalement lors de la phase conceptuelle. En deuxième lieu, des verrous opérationnels liés au manque de connaissances environnementales du concepteur. En réponse à ces verrous nous proposons la création de liens entre l’analyse de cycle de vie (ACV) et l’analyse fonctionnelle (AF). Ces liens donnent lieu à un processus collaboratif d’éco-conception qui est en partie supporté par la méthode EcoAF spécialement développée à cet effet. La méthode intègre le concept de cycle de vie de l’ACV lors de la réalisation de l’AF, permettant ainsi de guider le concepteur vers l’intégration de considérations environnementales pour la création d’un produit avec un rendement environnemental équilibré sur l’ensemble du cycle de vie / The thesis contributes to a better understanding of the eco-design process of products, especially in the integration of environmental considerations in the early phases of the design process. Focused on the conceptual phase, the main motivation of this work is to intervene when the decisions of the designer have the greatest environmental influence. Indeed, many authors agree that the early stages of the design process can prevent up to 80% of environmental impacts. However, there are also many obstacles to the integration of environmental considerations, especially for a new product. The obstacles are highlighted through two types of locks. First, methodological locks encountered mainly at the conceptual stage. Secondly, operational locks are related with the lack of environmental knowledge of the designer. To solve the problems, we propose the creation of links between the life-cycle assessment (LCA), method that includes environmental knowledge, and functional analysis (FA), method well known by the designer early in the design process. These links have resulted in a collaborative eco-design process that is partly supported by the creation of the EcoAF method. Eco AF integrates life cycle concept of LCA when performing AF. It makes it possible to guide the designer in the integration of environmental considerations in creating a product with a balanced environmental performance throughout the life cycle

Construction projects are complex endeavors that require the involvement of different professional disciplines in order to meet various project objectives that are often conflicting. The level of complexity and the multi-objective nature of construction projects lend themselves to collaborative design and construction such as integrated project delivery (IPD), in which relevant disciplines work together during project conception, design and construction. Traditionally, the main objectives of construction projects have been to build in the least amount of time with the lowest cost possible, thus the inherent and well-established relationship between cost and time has been the focus of many studies. The importance of being able to effectively model relationships among multiple objectives in building construction has been emphasized in a wide range of research. In general, the trade-off relationship between time and cost is well understood and there is ample research on the subject. However, despite sustainable building designs, relationships between time and environmental impact, as well as cost and environmental impact, have not been fully investigated. The objectives of this research were mainly to analyze and identify relationships of time, cost, and environmental impact, in terms of CO2 emissions, at different levels of a building: material level, component level, and building level, at the pre-use phase, including manufacturing and construction, and the relationships of life cycle cost and life cycle CO2 emissions at the usage phase. Additionally, this research aimed to develop a robust simulation-based multi-objective decision-support tool, called SimulEICon, which took construction data uncertainty into account, and was capable of incorporating life cycle assessment information to the decision-making process. The findings of this research supported the trade-off relationship between time and cost at different building levels. Moreover, the time and CO2 emissions relationship presented trade-off behavior at the pre-use phase. The results of the relationship between cost and CO2 emissions were interestingly proportional at the pre-use phase. The same pattern continually presented after the construction to the usage phase. Understanding the relationships between those objectives is a key in successfully planning and designing environmentally sustainable construction projects.

Le présent travail a pour but de contribuer à la prise en considération des aspects environnementaux dans le processus de conception de produits par l’étude des échanges d’informations en conception. Plus précisément, la question de recherche abordée est : Quelles sont les conséquences sur le produit lorsque différentes informations du processus de conception sont données à l'expert environnement ?Le développement de ce manuscrit porte, en premier lieu, sur la représentation des informations du produit nécessaires à l'expert environnement. Ensuite, en tenant compte de ces informations de base, un rôle d’expert environnement est créé dans le contexte d’une simulation de conception. Ici, trois niveaux d'information sont définis : le cahier des charges produit, le cahier des charges plus les règles métier et « tous les échanges » (i.e. l’intégration de l’expert dans l’équipe de conception). La comparaison des trois niveaux d’information nous amène, entre autres, à la conclusion suivante : dans un contexte où l’expert est déconnecté de l’équipe de conception, le fait, pour lui, de connaitre les règles métier des autres le rend moins efficace sur la réduction de l'impact environnemental. En fait, il est plus concerné par la faisabilité globale du produit. Cela n’est pas le cas dans un contexte intégré qui mène au meilleur compromis entre faisabilité et performance environnementale du produit / To increase integration of environmental expertise in design process, the present work aims to explore the information exchange matter. More precisely, the research question addressed is: what is the product outcome when different sets of information from the design process are given to the environmental expert?The development of this dissertation covers, first, the representation of product development information from the point of view of the environmental expert. Second, this baseline information is used to create an environmental expert role in the context of a design simulation. Based on this simulation, three sets of information are tested: specifications; specifications plus rules of thumb; and “all design exchanges” (i.e. the expert joins the design team). The comparison of the 3 levels of information reveals, among other results, that: in a context where the environmental expert is disconnected form the design team, and, in which rules of thumb are presented, the expert is less focused on reducing the environmental impact. Nevertheless, he is more concerned with the overall feasibility of the house. This is not the case of an integrated context, which results in the best compromise between feasibility and environmental performance

Die Kreislaufwirtschaft wird von den verschiedensten Seiten als wichtige Strategie für eine nachhaltige Zukunft gefordert und gefördert. Schon seit einiger Zeit setzt sich die Erkenntnis durch, dass eine Bewegung weg von Geschäftsmodellen, die auf Produktverkäufen basieren, hin zum Angebot von Produkt-Dienstleistungssystemen das Implementieren von Kreislaufwirtschaft unterstützen kann. Diese These wurde erneut in der Arbeit der Circular Economy Initiative Deutschland (CEID) diskutiert und in Berichten dieser Initiative dokumentiert. Die Autorin, die auch Mitglied der Circular Economy Initiative war, beleuchtet in diesem Text den Zusammenhang und beschreibt anhand von Ergebnissen aus früheren Forschungs- und Beratungstätigkeiten, wie Produkt-Dienstleistungssysteme (Product-Service Systems, PSS) die Circular Economy unterstützen können und wie diese PSS gestaltet werden können, damit das möglichst nachhaltig, also ökologisch, sozial und ökonomisch vorteilhaft, wirkt. Prozesse, Methoden und Tools für PSS Design und Evaluierung werden vorgestellt und durch Fallbeispiele illustriert.