Lesson video

Hello there.

My name is Mrs. Dhabi.

Thank you for joining me for your design and technology lesson today.

Now, the big question for today is, how can we reduce the environmental impact of a product whilst it's being used? So we're gonna explore this with lots and lots of different product ideas, and we're also going to look at a few different design approaches too.

It's gonna be a great lesson.

Let's get cracking.

Our outcome for today is, we will be able to explain how to reduce the environmental impact of a product during use.

We have four keywords today.

Design decisions are a deliberate choice to meet a requirement or solve a problem.

Durability is the ability of a product or material to withstand wear, pressure, or damage over time.

Modular is what we're going to investigate in our second learning cycle.

It's a design approach where a product is made up of separate, interchangeable parts or modules.

And lastly, we have design opportunity, which is a gap or a need where a new or improved product would be beneficial.

We have two learning cycles today.

Firstly, we're going to explore the product-in-use.

And secondly, we're going to investigate some different design approaches.

So let's start off with product-in-use.

The circular economy can be defined as an economic system where products and materials are kept in circulation and do not become waste, or become very, very minimal waste.

Take a look at the diagram in the bottom right of the circular economy.

Now, we're gonna zoom into the product-in-use stage of the circular economy.

Environmental impact at the product-in-use stage can be influenced by design decisions made during the, what do you think it might be? Pause the video, have a little think, and come back to me when you've got an answer.

Fantastic.

Hopefully, you identified the design or redesign stage.

So environmental impact at the project-in-use stage can be influenced by design decisions made during the design or redesign stage.

So sometimes those decisions have to be made before the product is used.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation explains the value of design in the circular economy.

They say, "Decisions made at the design phase influence how long something lasts, what it is made of, if it can be repaired, and what happens to it at the end of its life.

In fact, 80% of a product's environmental impact is influenced by decisions made at the design stage." What a whopping high percentage that is.

And in the context of a circular economy, it means we have the power to redesign everything in order to eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials, and regenerate nature.

Therefore, this highlights the important role that designers have in reducing environmental impact through their design decisions.

And that is something we, as designers, need to keep very close in our minds as we are designing, because it will have a huge impact on the environmental impact at other stages of the product lifecycle.

Time for a quick check-in.

Ellen MacArthur Foundation states that something of a product's environmental impact is influenced by decisions made at the design stage.

Is it A, 75%, B, 78%, C, 80%, or D, 82%? Have a little think.

Come back to me when you've got an idea.

Well done if you've got C, it is 80%.

Wow.

So the Ellen MacArthur Foundation states that 80% of a product's environmental impact is influenced by decisions made at the design stage.

Circular economy and life cycle assessment, often abbreviated to LCA, encourage both designers and users to place greater value on sustainability, and make design decisions to shift away from previous thinking of a throw-away society, in which many products were designed for one-off use.

Now, one-off use, that means products that are used once and then thrown away.

Examples of that might be disposable nappies, might be single-use polymer bottles, where you have a drink of water, then you throw it away.

And it might also mean plastic bags that you use for shopping.

Government pressure, such as the plastic bag tax, introduced in 2015, has also encouraged designers to make more sustainable design decisions.

So let's put this into context.

Before 2015, you could go into any shop, and you could request a plastic bag when you have bought your shopping, and you wouldn't have to pay a penny for it.

Whereas, now, you have to pay if you need a plastic bag.

So sustainable design decisions have included designing bags for life that can be reused over and over again, and you don't throw them away.

But it's also encouraged designers to think about materials.

So, for example, lots of fruit is now packaged in cardboard packaging rather than single-use plastics.

And also, lots of plastic bags have now been made so that they are compostable.

So although you might only use them once, they're not then going to harm the environment.

It's got designers and it's got users thinking more about sustainability.

That's gotta be a good thing.

Okay, let's put this into context with some products that you may use on a daily basis, or you may use occasionally.

Put your hand up if you have ever had a sandwich wrapped in cling film.

I bet there's a few more.

Yeah, quite a few hands have we got? Yeah, okay.

Put your hands down.

Right, what I'd like you to do is, I'd like you to turn to the person next to you, or tell me, if it's just you by yourself, tell me what alternatives are there to cling film.

Pause the video.

Come back to me when you've shared some ideas.

Okay, so, hopefully, you came up with some great examples.

So let's take a look at mine.

Durable and eco-friendly alternatives to cling film for homemade sandwiches include reusable polymer lunch boxes, which are long-lasting and ideal for protecting food, beeswax wraps, which are moldable, reusable for up to a year, and compostable when worn out.

And then, lastly, I'm seeing a real rise in these as a teacher, is fabric wraps that are washable and reusable, often made from cotton or linen, and often fastened with a hook and loop or little clip poppers that clip them together and contain your sandwiches before you eat them.

You might have thought of some more as well.

Well done.

The type of energy source selected for a product significantly affects its carbon emissions.

Renewable energy design decisions that reduce environmental impact during use include wind-up mechanisms, powered by manual effort, requiring no batteries, such as wind-up torches or wind-up toys.

And then solar energy harnesses sunlight to power the product sustainably.

And you might have perhaps a little solar panel on your calculator or maybe some solar lights at home.

Many electronic books now feature accessible, replaceable button batteries, ensuring that the product does not become obsolete.

Let's just focus in on that word, obsolete means when a product is no longer used or useful.

So this is a book that my children had when they were a little bit younger.

I bought it twice in the end because they loved it that much.

First time I bought it, the battery went, they could no longer push that button and play the sounds.

Therefore, I needed to change the battery, but I couldn't because the batteries were not accessible.

In the end, I bought the whole book again, but they'd obviously made some design decisions in that time because I noticed that you could turn it over, and you could take the battery out, and replace it if it wore out, which I did do many, many times.

Great design decision there.

Now, this is a nightlight that we have in our hallway.

It attaches to the wall with a magnet for easy removal and recharging.

So design decisions for products to have or use rechargeable batteries reduces the need for disposable ones, minimising chemical waste and battery disposal.

And for me, it's great, the kids take it off the wall and plug it in to recharge it.

There's no trying to see if we've actually got the right batteries.

There's no then having to go out to buy the right batteries and then having to fiddle around to change it, it's really easy.

That charging port is fab, and is a real good sustainable design decision.

Time for a quick check-in.

Which of these products helps reduce waste during the product-in-use stage, A, disposable plastic water bottles, B, reusable beeswax wraps, C, non-rechargeable batteries, or D, single-use coffee cups? Have a think.

Come back to me when you've got an answer.

Well done if you've got B, reusable beeswax wraps.

That's a right mouthful.

Please have a go at trying to say that (laughs) phrase.

It's difficult.

Anyway, reusable beeswax wraps a great because you can reuse them to wrap up sandwiches or food, and you do not have to throw them away.

They are not single-use.

Well done if you got that correct.

Onto task A, part one, I would like you to match the product that you can see below, one of the four, to the method of reducing environmental impact at the product-in-use stage, be that energy source or durable alternatives.

So, basically, match each one of those pictures to either energy source or durable alternatives as its method of reducing the environmental impact.

Good luck.

Come back to me where you've got some answers.

Hopefully, you identified that wind-up toys and solar and wind-up radios is a method of reducing environmental impact by the energy source.

They are not using batteries.

They are not being plugged into the mains.

And then, hopefully, you found and you thought that the lunchbox tin and the drinks flask are examples of durable alternatives.

So the lunchbox being an alternative to cling film, 'cause you can put your stuff inside, and then the drinks flask being an alternative to single-use polymer bottles or single-use coffee cups.

Well done.

Part two, I'd like you to explain how the environmental impact can be reduced at the product-in-use stage of the circular economy.

Use an example to support your answers.

You could choose any product you like, but if you're stuck, feel free to choose rechargeable batteries or food packaging.

Good luck.

Off you go.

Come back to me when you've got some great answers.

Answers could include, during the product-in-use stage of the circular economy, the environmental impact can be reduced by making design decisions to use durable alternatives to single-use plastic, such as reusable or biodegradable options, for example, beeswax wraps are a sustainable alternative to cling film.

They can be used multiple times, reducing the need for single-use plastics.

After their lifespan, they can be composted, making them an environmentally friendly choice.

Fabric wraps like cotton or linen are another alternative.

These wraps are washable and reusable, making them a more sustainable and durable option than cling film, as they can be used for years without needing to be replaced.

These alternatives help reduce plastic waste, decrease reliance on non-renewable resources, and contribute to a more sustainable circular economy by being reusable or compostable.

Well done with all of your efforts.

Onto learning cycle two, investigate.

Designing a product to either adjust, so to grow with the user, or use a modular design approach, are fantastic ways of reducing environmental impact during product use.

And we're going to investigate this during this learning cycle.

So Andeep says, "What is modular design?" Great question, Andeep.

Modular design is a design approach where a product is made up of separate, interchangeable parts or modules.

Design decisions for modular products enable upgrading or expanding without needing to replace the entire item.

So, for example, we have trousers that zip off into shorts.

So the modular part is the extra length to make the shorts into trousers.

We have high-heeled shoes that convert into flats for versatility and comfort.

So that heel is the modular part that comes off, you can either have it on or off.

Great after a long wedding.

And then we have heel designs that can be switched according to outfit.

So rather than having tonnes and tonnes of pairs of shoes, you can have modular heels that you simply replace, depending on what outfit, what colour, what pattern you are wearing.

What a great design.

This is a product that I used to have with my little ones.

Let's start on the left-hand side.

So you can see, it's got a play attachment on it.

You can place the little one inside of there, and they can play while you run around and do a few little jobs.

Next image, you can take off that play attachment, and you can use that tray, so that the small child can eat on that tray.

Well, use it as a tray, so you can put the food on, and then they can pick it off.

Moving on to the third picture, that tray can be taken off, so the child can just sit there.

Perhaps you could give them a big cuddly teddy bear, or something like that.

And then moving on to the last picture on the right, you can see that the insert, the green insert, has been taken out.

Now, the reason for that is because, often, children grow quite quickly.

So rather than throwing the whole product away, you can take out that insert, and it can still be used.

So I've put, some baby seats are designed with multiple functions, such as for play and feeding, and include removable inserts, so they can adapt as the child grows.

All of those parts are modules.

The play attachment is a module, the tray is a module, and the insert is a module.

Therefore, this modular design helps extend the product's lifespan, but also the usability of the product.

Great design.

Have you ever moved the bike seat up on your bike or on a friend's bike? Now, when I was younger, this was a big procedure.

My dad used to get out his toolbox.

I used to sit on it.

He used to try and adjust it.

He'd get his tools out, his spanners, and he would move that seat up for me.

It's not like that anymore.

Design has changed.

Design decisions to make this easier to adjust have meant that now, there is a quick-release clamp.

It's so easy to do, you can adjust that height within seconds.

So many bike seats now use a quick-release mechanism, a design decision that allows the height to be easily adjusted for different users.

It can be easily shared between users without the use of specific tools, whilst also allowing the product to grow easily with each of the users.

A great design decision.

Time for a check-in.

Which product is an example of modular design? We have a whisk with detachable whisk parts.

We have a bike helmet, and we have a reusable box.

Think carefully about what that word modular design means.

Come back to me when you've got an answer.

Well done if you've got A.

If you've got A, that is absolutely right.

It is an example of a modular design, because each of those different whisks come off, and you can change them.

You can have one whisk, you can have two whisks, or you can have a different style of whisks, depending on what product or what food you are whisking.

Now, if you said the other two, yes, they're brilliant examples of sustainable design, but the bike helmet, that's an example of adjustable and sustainable design.

And then the reusable box is an example of a durable, sustainable design.

Whereas modular, remember that's parts you can take on or off without needing a whole new product.

Well done if you got that right.

Right, take a look at this highchair.

Now, let me just explain a little bit before I start talking about the product.

That child is a normal, average-sized child.

(laughs) That child is not exceptionally small.

It's just that the product is actually a giant version of the real product.

So the real product is a lot smaller in real life.

So this is the Stokke highchair that grows with the user by enabling the seat and footrest to be quickly and easily moved up or down along the routed sides.

So let's zoom in.

Routed are those little gaps all the way along the side.

Now, this enables you to be able to pull out the footrest, or pull out the seat, and then move that up or down according to how big you actually are.

Now, it can also hold a baby seat.

It has attachments to make it into a highchair.

So it has that bit between the legs that you can pop on, so that the child doesn't fall through.

But it can also be adjusted to seat any size person comfortably.

So it could seat anybody from any family, doesn't matter what height they are, you just move that seat or footrest along the routed sides.

What innovative, great, sustainable product.

Now, I'm sure you have got tables like this within your school.

We certainly do at my school.

Adjustable tables are an example of inclusive design.

They can be quickly and easily adapted, so that they are accessible for wheelchair users or people with restricted growth.

They're great.

They're so easy to do.

You pop the handle in, you turn it round, and you can change the height of that table.

I find that so useful for different students who are coming into my lesson, but also because, but sometimes I just like to have a higher-up table when I'm showing off certain products.

It's great, easily, easily adjustable, but also inclusive.

Cot beds are a great example of modular design.

So alternative to cots include cot beds.

So cot beds allow the base of the cot to move down when the toddlers become active, so they can't climb out and hurt themselves.

But they also have removable sides, which are the modules, so that they can be used as a bed that the child can get in and out of safely when they become too much of a climber.

So you take that module out, it might be one side removed, or it might be both sides removed, but you can pop them back if then you have another baby.

Great example of modular design.

True or false, considering a product's energy use is the only way to design a sustainable product.

What do you think, true or false? Have a think.

Come back to me when you've got an answer.

Well done if you got false.

And why is that? There are many other ways to design a product to be sustainable when in use, including designing products to grow with users, be adjusted, modularity, as in modular design, or reused.

Onto task B, part one, I'd like you to look around your homes and schools, what product examples can you find of products that consider energy source, adjustability for users, modular design, or durable alternatives? Take a good look around, have a good think.

Come back to me when you've got some lovely answers.

Your answers could include, so Lucas looked around his home and school, and he found these examples, for energy source, solar garden lights, solar-powered security lights, solar panels on his school roof.

Then for adjustability for users, he found extendable dining tables.

Good one, Lucas.

Adjustable shower heads, adjustable window blinds.

For modular design, he found kitchen drawer organisers, modular shelving units, and modular sofas.

And then for durable alternatives, he found metal straws, refillable soaps, and bags for life.

These are all fantastic examples, Lucas.

Well done.

And hopefully, you found some cracking examples too.

Part two, I'd like you to identify a design opportunity by selecting an existing product that could be improved to make it more environmentally friendly during product use.

Part three, I'd like you to sketch your ideas for a redesigned version of the product.

You could think about energy source, adjustability for users, modular design, or durable alternatives.

Have fun identifying your design opportunities and responding to those design opportunities too.

Come back to me when you've got some great ideas.

Lucas spotted a design opportunity.

He said, "My mom grows a variety of flowers in the garden, but quite often struggles to display them to their full potential.

The stems often make the flowers droop over and look rather amateur.

She also has far too many vases and often uses only one at a time." And you can see Lucas's mom's flowers there drooping over.

They do not work in that vase.

Let's take a little look at what Lucas designed.

So Lucas designed a magnetic-topped vase with modular tops that could hold different quantities of stems that vary in diameter.

Now, those modular tops use magnets to ensure a robust fitting.

And you can see those magnets, they are coloured in a yellowy orange.

So the magnets ensure a robust fitting, but also allow the top to be easily removed when water or flowers are being changed.

We take a little look, the top of the modular top looks like that.

And then underneath, again, you can see those magnets to attach onto the vase.

You can see, he has designed alternative modular tops, depending on how big those flower-diameter stems are.

And therefore, this reduces the need for lots of different-sized vases.

Rather than picking a different-sized vase, you'd simply change the modular top to allow any vase to be used for any sized flowers to support those stems and hold them in place, so that they look beautiful.

Lovely idea, Lucas.

Well done.

This brings us to the end of our lesson today.

Let's summarise what we have found out.

Environmental impact at the product-in-use stage can be influenced by design decisions made during the design or redesign stage.

Design decisions include energy source, adjustability, design for durability, modular design, reusable, and designs that grow with the user.

Well done with all of your hard work.

And I hope to see you in another lesson soon.

Take good care.

Bye-bye-bye.