New
New
Lesson 6 of 8
  • Year 10

Product in use: S H E uniform and Hippo Roller

I can explain how to reduce the environmental impact of a product during its use.

Lesson 6 of 8
New
New
  • Year 10

Product in use: S H E uniform and Hippo Roller

I can explain how to reduce the environmental impact of a product during its use.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Designers consider the environmental impact of a product in use.
  2. Design for supporting developing countries considers sustainable product use.

Keywords

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

  • Durability - ability of a product or material to withstand wear, pressure, or damage over time

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

  • Design opportunity - a gap or a need, where a new or improved product would be beneficial

Common misconception

Considering a product's energy use is the only way to design a sustainable product.

There are many other ways to design a product to be sustainable when in use, including designing products to grow with users, be adjusted, modular, reused etc.


To help you plan your year 10 design and technology lesson on: Product in use: S H E uniform and Hippo Roller, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Have a look around the school/home for products that 'grow' with the user as examples of sustainable products, such as adjustable chairs/products.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Risk assessment required - equipment

Supervision

Adult supervision required

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.
What is a design decision?

Correct answer: a deliberate choice to meet a requirement or solve a problem
a gap or a need, where a new or improved product would be beneficial
a deliberate choice of which way to communicate design ideas

Q2.
An economic system where products and materials are kept in circulation and do not become waste is known as ...

Correct answer: the circular economy.
the linear economy.
the iterative economy.
the sequential economy.

Q3.
Transportation would usually fall into which stage of the circular economy?

design / redesign
Correct answer: distribution
product in use
repair and maintenance

Q4.
What is one of the environmental benefits of using hydrogen fuel for distribution vehicles?

it is made from waste
Correct answer: it only emits water vapour
it only emits oxygen
it only emits hydrogen

Q5.
How can designers reduce carbon emissions during the distribution stage of the circular economy?

Correct answer: design products to be flat packed
Correct answer: design products that stack
design products that are made of one material
design products that can be packed in cardboard

Q6.
Trevor Baylis designed the wind up for communities without access to electricity and located manufacturing close to primary users.

Correct Answer: Radio

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
Match the term to the definition.

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:modular design,a design approach where a product is made up of interchangeable parts

a design approach where a product is made up of interchangeable parts

Correct Answer:design opportunity,a gap or a need, where a new or improved product would be beneficial

a gap or a need, where a new or improved product would be beneficial

Q2.
Ellen MacArthur Foundation states that of a product's environmental impact is influenced by decisions made at the design stage.

60%
70%
Correct answer: 80%
90%

Q3.
Which of these products helps reduce waste during the product in use stage?

disposable plastic water bottles
Correct answer: reusable beeswax wraps
non-rechargeable batteries
single-use coffee cups

Q4.
When in use, the S H E uniform is an example of ...

An image in a quiz
a renewable energy source.
modular design.
Correct answer: adjustability.
one-off use.
Q4 © Payton McGriff, Styleherempowered.org