:: Specific Design Brief

LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

LU 2: HIGH ADDED VALUE

PRODUCT DESIGN UK

GENERIC DESIGN CONTEXT
It has been recommended for many years that reducing, reusing and recycling provide many opportunities for environmental improvements in our own and other countries and in product manufacture. Design and make a product that uses at least one of these three criteria.

SPECIFIC DESIGN BRIEF
Recycled polymers are generally perceived to be of lower quality than new materials and, consequently, they only tend to find application in products of low added value such as flower pots and bin liners. In turn this makes it difficult to economically justify the additional collection and processing costs associated with recycling. Design a product with high added value, e.g. furniture or a musical instrument from recycled polymers.

CLIENT DETAILS
The product is to be sold in European markets and, in order to attract a high selling price, it must be stylish and fashionable. Whichever product area you choose it will be essential to research and understand current market trends. It is also essential to choose a product area where good design can attract a premium price.

Your first point of contact will be Loughborough University. Initially contact Eddie Norman (email [email protected] or by phone 01509-222659).

SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES
• Reducing the quantity of materials entering landfill sites can significantly reduce the environmental impact of people in the UK.
• The manufacture of an appropriately designed product would provide worthwhile employment.
• Local manufacture of the product would provide employment in the UK and reduce transportation costs – both economic and environmental – associated with the product.
• Using recycled materials, reduces the extraction of raw materials and hence supports biodiversity.

FURTHER INFORMATION
BACKGROUND

If you decide to work on this design brief, don't forget to consider the issues of sustainability in the different phases of your designing and making.
Click here to access Sustain-a-balls