New
New
Lesson 8 of 8
  • Year 9

Redesign and rethink

I can explain how products can be redesigned within the circular economy.

Lesson 8 of 8
New
New
  • Year 9

Redesign and rethink

I can explain how products can be redesigned within the circular economy.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Products can be redesigned or adapted to make future successful products.
  2. Refillable products enable a reduction in packaging that would otherwise end up in landfill.
  3. Existing products can inspire future design.

Keywords

  • Circular economy - products and materials are kept in circulation and do not become waste

  • Life cycle assessment (LCA) - assesses the environmental impact at every stage of a product’s lifecycle

  • Design decisions - a deliberate choice to meet a requirement or solve a problem

  • Redesign - making design decisions to improve a product in some way

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

Common misconception

Redesigning a product for the circular economy only means making it recyclable.

Redesign in the circular economy involves designing products to last longer, be repaired, reused, or upgraded to reduce waste throughout the product’s entire life cycle.


To help you plan your year 9 design and technology lesson on: Redesign and rethink, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Collecting old packaging from deodorants/toothbrushes to compare new versions to would be ace!
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Maintenance is the regular and small fixes to keep a product working properly and lasting longer.

Correct Answer: care

Q2.
Repair and maintenance of a product is the responsibility of the user and the ...

Correct Answer: designer

Q3.
The ability to take apart products helps them to be ...

Correct answer: recycled
redesigned
Correct answer: upcycled
discarded

Q4.
A design opportunity happens when there is a or a need for a new or improved product.

solution
Correct answer: gap
plan
material

Q5.
Which of the following products follow a linear economy model?

Correct answer: alkaline battery
bag for life
compostable bag
Correct answer: fast fashion

Q6.
What does iteration mean in the context of design?

creating a completely different product from scratch
Correct answer: refining or improving a product through repeated development
improving a product by making one final change

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the terms to their definitions.

Correct Answer:redesign,making design decisions to improve a product in some way

making design decisions to improve a product in some way

Correct Answer:life cycle assessment (LCA),assesses a product's environmental impact throughout its life cycle

assesses a product's environmental impact throughout its life cycle

Correct Answer:design decisions,a deliberate choice to meet a requirement or solve a problem

a deliberate choice to meet a requirement or solve a problem

Correct Answer:iteration,refining or improving

refining or improving

Q2.
Which of the following is not a common reason for redesigning a product?

to comply with newly introduced regulations
to reflect feedback from users or stakeholders
Correct answer: to intentionally increase production costs
to take advantage of technological advancements

Q3.
Which redesign strategy helps to extend a product's life?

Correct answer: using durable materials that resist wear and tear
requiring specialist tools to repair
designing it to go out of fashion quickly
including components that are difficult to replace

Q4.
Which of the following best describes how the circular economy approach applies to product redesign?

It focuses only on ensuring that products are recycled at the end of their life.
It aims to reduce waste by designing products to be used once and then disposed.
Correct answer: It involves designing products to last longer, be repaired, reused, or upgraded.
It focuses on lowering the cost of manufacturing regardless of product lifespan.

Q5.
What is the positive environmental impact of using cardboard packaging for refillable deodorants?

An image in a quiz
it makes the deodorant smell stronger
Correct answer: it is biodegradable and breaks down
Correct answer: it does not require components or adhesives to hold together
it keeps deodorant fresher for longer
Correct answer: it can be recycled

Q6.
Match the redesigned product to the original product.

Correct Answer:single use coffee cup,refillable metal drinks flask

refillable metal drinks flask

Correct Answer:polymer straw,metal straw

metal straw

Correct Answer:disposable nappy,washable cloth nappy

washable cloth nappy

Correct Answer:polymer toothbrush,bamboo toothbrush

bamboo toothbrush

Correct Answer:petrol cars,hybrid vehicles

hybrid vehicles