T H E C I R C U L AR
C L A S S R O O M
MODULE 3
DESIGN & CREATIVITY
CIRCULAR CLASSROOM | MODULE 3 CIRCULAR CLASSROOM | MODULE 3
THE CREATIVE BRAIN
INTRO
WELCOME TO
THE CIRCULAR
Design
CLASSROOM
WORKBOOK
& Creativity
FOR MODULE 3
In this workbook, you This pack includes three core
will find a general activities that you can do during
class. It also has variations and
introduction to the core suggestions for how to extend the
content of this module, learning experience so you can
along with activities engage in lengthier explorations
for in-class learning, into the core topics.
further research and
exploration.
Refer to the Feel free to
website for live photocopy this
links to additional content and use
support materials. it to activate your
classroom.
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CIRCULAR CLASSROOM | MODULE 3 CIRCULAR CLASSROOM | MODULE 3
DESIGN & CREATIVITY
Design is one of the most powerful Creativity and design have helped
tools that human beings have created us human beings evolve as far as we
in order to shape the world to meet have – and they are also the secret
their needs. We design everything ingredients that will help us achieve
from chairs to cities and even govern- a more sustainable future.
ment policies.
An important part of the circular
The power of design is in the creative economy is being able to shift
solutions to complex problems that the way we deliver products to
it allows us to come up with. It also customers so that we close the loop
RETURN TO SYSTEMS SPACE ALLOCATION
allows many different solutions to be on production.
developed, which means we have lots
of options and opportunities. One solution is to change business
GR models from the linear delivery of a
OW
product to market (with zero respon-
USE
&R
EPA
IR TH
Professional designers sibility for it at the end of its life) to a
EX
work on many different closed loop model in which recapture
ET
AI
L TR
AC aspects of society. and reuse are designed in right from
T IO the start.
However, we are all
R
N
citizen designers, This is called a “Product Service
N
TIO
System” model. There are many other
PR
influencing what
TA
OC
solutions to designing for the circular
OR
ES
products and services
SP
SIN
economy, some of which haven’t even
AN
G
C TURING
end up in the economy.
TR
been discovered yet!
ING
M ANUFA
This requires changing the business
PACK AG
This means we all have the opportunity
to help design a future that works better models of linear products to circular
than today. In order to shift to a circular ones, which means designing prod-
economy, it is important to understand ucts to fit within a service delivery
and embrace design and creativity. system.
Both are crucial for believing there
are different possibilities out there.
THE DESIGN MINDSET
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CIRCULAR CLASSROOM | MODULE 3 CIRCULAR CLASSROOM | MODULE 3
ACTIVITY 1 STEP 3 STEP 4
Place each part on a large piece Design an alternative to this
of paper and write a note about product using sustainable design
what that part is, where it is from strategies, considering how you
MATERIALS NEEDED and how hard or easy it was to could turn this into a product ser-
remove. vice system model.
PRODUCT TEAR DOWN Broken household items
AUTOPSY Scrap paper
Eventually, you and your group Share your group’s ideas with the
Pens
Tools with which to disassemble will have a page filled with all of class.
the object’s parts, just like in an
autopsy.
The goal of this activity: Learn how products
are designed by pulling apart old, broken items!
Disassembly is a fascinating way to to discover
how things are assembled and just how recyclable
something is or isn’t. After disassembling, challenge
yourself to figure out how to redesign the product
in a more sustainable way.
STEP 1 STEP 2
Collect a range of broken house- Form groups of 2–6 people and
hold or school items such as elec- select one item per group. Have
tronics, shoes or pens. each group take the item apart,
trying not to break it unless there
You will also need some basic is no other way of reducing it to all
tools like screwdrivers, pliers, its component parts.
as well as safety equipment.
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CIRCULAR CLASSROOM | MODULE 3 CIRCULAR CLASSROOM | MODULE 3
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER AFTER THE ACTIVITY
Divide all the broken items See if these types of
How easy or hard was Were there any parts that
into different recycling products can be recycled
it to disassemble your were designed to make categories (plastic, metals, in your area.
product? How does this it intentionally hard to etc.) and then weigh them
affect the possibility of get into the product? to see how much would be Research the global e-waste
it being recycled? actually recyclable. Make recycling system and the
sure you find the right European Union’s WEEE
recycling location for the Directive as a follow-up
items after the activity! activity.
How do you think the
product’s design and What errors do you think
assembly affects the the designer made in the
possibility of repairing product’s creation?
the product? DISCUSSION
WHAT HAPPENS TO WHAT TYPES OF
OBJECTS AFTER YOU PAPER ARE RECYCLABLE
PUT THEM IN THE AND WHERE DO THEY
RECYCLING BIN? END UP?
How long do you think How long do you think WHAT TYPES OF PLASTIC
ARE RECYCLABLE AND
this product is intended the components of this HOW MANY OF THEM
CAN BE TURNED INTO
SOMETHING ELSE?
to be used? product will last?
WHAT TYPES OF METALS
ARE RECYCLABLE
AND WHAT ARE THEY
USED FOR?
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CIRCULAR CLASSROOM | MODULE 3 CIRCULAR CLASSROOM | MODULE 3
ACTIVITY 2 PROJECT CARDS
You work for a large company
MATERIALS NEEDED You are a small design studio that makes non-recyclable
POST-DISPOSABLE that has been asked to design cell phones. Pitch your boss
REDESIGN Project cards a toaster that fits within the an idea that would enable
Scrap paper circular economy. the company to make the
CHALLENGE Pens
cell phones part of the circular
economy.
The goal of this activity: Understand the life cycle of You are an independent You work for a company that
a product and how it can be adapted to the circular design team that wants to sells millions of bottles of water
economy. This requires us to think about the end of make fashion more circular. and soft drinks every day. You
life, and also the beginning, when functionality and Design a business that helps have to redesign the entire
people get hold of fashionable production line to make it more
material choices are being made. This challenge clothes in circular ways. circular and reduce waste.
requires you to work in “design studio teams”
to see who can solve a circular design challenge!
STEP 1 STEP 2 You work for a small furniture You have been commissioned
company that wants to be by a leading sports footwear
Divide into pairs or small groups Take two minutes to pitch the
a leader in sustainable and company to create a new shoe
and obtain a project card. idea to the other groups, acting
circular household furniture at that is fully recyclable at the
as though you are pitching to a
cost-effective prices. Design end of life and uses recycled
Come up with a team name and client, and include the following:
take 30 minutes to produce an the problem that the “client” has a range of furniture that is fully materials. Design and pitch
idea based on your team’s project outlined, their idea, how it relates circular and stylish. the new shoe concept.
card. to the problem, and how it fits
into the circular economy. Use the
planning chart on the next page
to work through your ideas.
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CIRCULAR CLASSROOM | MODULE 3 CIRCULAR CLASSROOM | MODULE 3
ACTIVITY PLANNING CHART
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
Group:
Problem Statement:
What other types of
What products would Who? What?
products do you think
it be hard to do this for
need to be changed
and why?
into circular products?
Where? How?
How can you
encourage the brands What do you feel about
and companies you like the design process?
to adopt this approach?
AFTER THE ACTIVITY
You will have had a taste of Build on this by researching
What will you look for Do you have any what it’s like to be a designer real-world solutions to the
the next time you make bad habits that you solving complex, real-world problem you were given.
a purchase? will try and change? problems with a circular Present the examples you
mindset and should be found to the class.
excited about the power of
creative problem solving.
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CIRCULAR CLASSROOM | MODULE 3 CIRCULAR CLASSROOM | MODULE 3
ACTIVITY 3 STEP 3 STEP 4
Design a way of approaching Send the company a letter or
this company to submit the list engage with it on social media
of recommendations and the to flex your active citizen designer
MATERIALS NEEDED reasons why, as a customer, muscles and spread the word!
you want it to go circular.
CITIZEN DESIGNERS Scrap paper
Pens This can be done in pairs, small
Internet access groups or individually and can be
extended over several classes.
The goal of this activity: Discover what type of
corporate citizenship companies have or don’t
have and discover the power of customer feedback
and active citizenship. The purpose is to learn and
then take action on something you can be a part
of designing better.
STEP 1 STEP 2
Choose a company from which Develop a list of recommenda-
you have purchased a product. tions that the company could use
Carry out research to find out if to help make its products circular
the company has a sustainability and lower their environmental
agenda or information available impact.
to the public on what sustainable
design strategies it has adopted.
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CIRCULAR CLASSROOM | MODULE 3 CIRCULAR CLASSROOM | MODULE 3
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER AFTER THE ACTIVITY
Follow through and check can make a major impact.
What is the power back with the company! See what next steps you can
How can you take more This is about participation take to extend your reach.
of active citizenship
daily actions to influence and seeing how small acts
in sustainability and
positive change?
design?
ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES
What role does the Learn from nature
How do you think social Research the Fibonacci sequence and other nature
consumer play in
media and other ways inspired design solutions, such as Leonardo Da Vinci’s
influencing the goods
of public engagement work. Write an essay about the ways human beings can
and services we have
affect companies? learn from nature to design more sustainable products.
in the economy?
Food chain
Learn about the impact of consumption on the ocean
by researching microplastics in the ocean, what causes
it and what impact it is having on the food chain.
Circular Design
How can you persuade What other actions can Carry out a research project on a designer or design
your friends and family you take to help bring agency that have used circular design to create products
to be active citizens? about change? for the circular economy. Identify the different design
strategies that they have used. Use the Design Play
Cards on the next sheet to activate your thinking!
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CIRCULAR CLASSROOM | MODULE 3 CIRCULAR CLASSROOM | MODULE 3
LIFE CYCLE THINKING REMANUFACTURE
DESIGN PLAY CARDS
We have provided these Circular Design Play Cards
to be cut out and used in your activities to help Looking at all the life cycle stages a product goes
through will help you identify where environmental
Remanufacturing is when a product is not com-
pletely disassembled, recycled or reused. Instead,
explore these different design strategies. impact occurs. Map the life cycle through extrac-
tion, manufacturing, packaging, transportation,
some parts are designed to be reused and other
parts recycled. Consider how the parts of the
use and end of life. Each of these stages requires product, or the entire product, can be remanu-
resources and generates waste. Identify these in factured into new usable goods in a closed loop
your map and find ways of reducing these stages system. It is critical to the technology sector, but
through your design. works perfectly well for many other products.
DEMATERIALIZATION DISASSEMBLY RECYCLABILITY MODULARITY
Reducing the overall size, weight and number Design for Disassembly requires a product to Consider the recyclability of all the materials Products that can be moved and configured in
of materials incorporated into a design is a be designed so that it can easily be taken apart you use and be careful about how they are put different ways adapt to different spaces and uses,
simple way of reducing the environmental impact. for recycling at the end of its life. How it is put together so that they can be disassembled increasing their ability to function well. This also
As a general rule, more materials result in greater together, the types of materials that are used and easily for recycling at the end of their life. Also, allows for end of life reuse scenarios as the owner
impact so it is important to use fewer types of the connection methods all need to be designed make sure there are systems in place so that the can decide on how to extend the life of the
materials and reduce the overall weight of the to increase the speed and ease of taking it apart product can actually be recycled at the location product in various ways.
materials you do use. for recycling. at which it will end up! For it to be circular,
the product has to fit within a closed loop system.
PRODUCT, SERVICE SYSTEM LONGEVITY REPAIR
An alternative to purchasable products are Longevity is about creating products that are aes- Repair is a fundamental aspect of the circular
leasable products that exist as part of a thetically timeless, durable and retain their value economy. Products wear out, break and get
company-owned system or service. Leasing a over time so people can resell them or pass them damaged. They need to be designed to enable
product out, rather than selling it directly, allows on. Products that last longer are not replaced as easy repair, upgrading and fixability. Along
the company to manage the product across frequently and can be repaired or upgraded dur- with extra parts and instructions on how to do
its entire life cycle, while also reducing waste. ing their life. What design changes can you make this, we need systems that support, rather than
Think about how your product could be part to your product to increase its useful life? discourage a repair mindset.
of a system service model.
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CIRCULAR CLASSROOM | MODULE 3
T H E C I R C U L A R
C L A S S R O O M
C IRC ULARC LASSR O O M.C O M
WRITTEN BY D R. L E YL A AC AROGLU
D E S IGN & IL L USTRATION BY EMMA S EGAL
P ROD UC ED BY C O-FOUND ERS
S P O NS O R E D B Y T H E WAL K I G R OU P
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