151-3206-00L  Systemic Design for Sustainability

SemesterFrühjahrssemester 2017
DozierendeT. Luthe
Periodizitätjährlich wiederkehrende Veranstaltung
LehrspracheEnglisch


KurzbeschreibungThis course introduces students to systemic design for sustainability to enable designers and engineers to take more effective action toward improving the complex sustainability challenges of today. Fundamental topics in systemic design cover the main theory, methods, and frameworks. Students will design and engineer their own outdoor sports product (e.g. a Surf-/Kite-/Skateboard).
LernzielThe growing necessity to consider eco-social aspects makes engineering design more complex. Systemic design combines systems thinking skills with design thinking to address such complexity. The objectives of the course are to introduce students to the most important topics in systemic design methods, models, theory and methodology that form the basis for engineering design practice and research for sustainability. A main goal is to develop whole systems thinking, life cycle and cradle to cradle thinking, to build knowledge on environmental impacts of materials and processes, and to stimulate overall reflective eco-social thinking in engineering design. Theory is applied by designing and engineering an individual outdoor sports product pushing the limits of systemic design for sustainability.
InhaltThe course is organized in four units with a theoretical and a practical part : Unit 1) Create a self-reflective, in-depth understanding of sustainability in general and in specific relation with engineering design, Unit 2) Develop whole systems thinking and learn systemic design tools such as life cycle design, cradle to cradle design, upcycling, biomimicry, Unit 3) Understand the human behavioral factors within systemic design and sustainability impact assessment. Unit 4) Apply theory to practice and build your own Surf-/Kite-/Longboard according to the systemic design skills acquired during this course. Students will finish a sustainability impact study for ecological, social, technical and economic peformance indicators of the products they design and build.
Skriptavailable on Moodle
Literature.g. Striebig, B. and Ogundipe, A. 2016. Engineering Applications in Sustainable Design and Development. ISBN-10: 8131529053.
Jones, P. 2014. Design research methods for systemic design: Perspectives from design education and practice. Proceedings of ISSS 2014, July 28 - Aug1, 2014, Washington, D.C.
Blizzard, J. L. and L. E. Klotz. 2012. A framework for sustainable whole systems design. Design Studies 33(5).
Brown, T. and J. Wyatt. 2010. Design thinking for social innovation. Stanford Social Innovation Review. Stanford University.
Fischer, M. 2015. Design it! Solving Sustainability problems by applying design thinking. GAIA 24/3:174-178.
Luthe, T., Kaegi, T. and J. Reger. 2013. A Systems Approach to Sustainable Technical Product Design. Combining life cycle assessment and virtual development in the case of skis. Journal of Industrial Ecology 17(4), 605-617. DOI: 10.1111/jiec.12000
Voraussetzungen / BesonderesPrior to the course start the literature has to be read as a preparation. Willingness to engage in the practical building part also beyond the course hours in the evening. Finishing an impact evaluation study within and outside of the contact lessons.