Product Design Competencies for Evolving Circular Business Models

Why It Matters

Successfully transitioning to circular economy models requires a fundamental shift in how products are designed and offered. This research highlights that designers need to move beyond traditional product development to consider the entire lifecycle and the business model it supports, enabling more sustainable and resilient systems.

Key Finding

The study found that designers need to possess both strategic and practical skills to design products that fit into leasing and refurbishment models, considering the product's entire lifespan and how the business offering might change over time.

Key Findings

• Designers need to concurrently develop the circular business model and the product's design.
• Designers must be able to anticipate how the circular offering will evolve over multiple lifecycles.
• The functional and coordinating roles of designers in circular models were verified, and a strategic role was identified.

Research Evidence

Aim: How do the roles and competencies of product designers need to evolve to effectively support circular business models, particularly in lease and refurbishment scenarios?

Method: Case Study

Procedure: A longitudinal, in-depth case study was conducted on a pilot program involving the leasing and refurbishment of baby strollers by a Dutch manufacturer. This was complemented by a literature review on designer competencies for sustainability and circular design.

Context: Product design for circular business models, specifically in the context of leasing and refurbishment.

Design Principle

Design for circularity requires a holistic approach that encompasses product form, function, and the business model it enables across multiple lifecycles.

How to Apply

When designing products intended for leasing, refurbishment, or other circular models, actively consider and map out the business model and potential future iterations of the offering alongside the product design.

Limitations

The findings are based on a single case study, which may limit generalizability.

Student Guide (IB Design Technology)

Simple Explanation: To make products that can be reused and leased, designers need to think about not just how the product is made, but also how it will be used, repaired, and potentially updated over many years, and how this fits into a business plan.

Why This Matters: Understanding how to design for circular business models is crucial for creating more sustainable products and businesses, reducing waste, and meeting future market demands.

Critical Thinking: To what extent can a product be designed for a circular business model without a fully defined business strategy, and how does this influence the design process?

IA-Ready Paragraph: This research highlights the critical need for designers to develop competencies in concurrently designing both the product and its associated circular business model, while also anticipating the offering's evolution across multiple lifecycles. This strategic approach is essential for the successful implementation of circular economy principles in product development.

Project Tips

• When designing a product for a circular model, consider how it will be disassembled, repaired, and upgraded.
• Think about the business model that will support the product's lifecycle, such as leasing or take-back schemes.

How to Use in IA

• Use this research to justify the need for designing products with a focus on longevity, repairability, and adaptability for circular business models.
• Incorporate the identified designer competencies (concurrent design of product and business model, anticipating evolution) into your design process and reflections.

Examiner Tips

• Demonstrate an understanding of how product design choices directly impact the viability and success of circular business models.
• Show how your design process accounts for the entire lifecycle of the product, including end-of-life scenarios and potential for refurbishment or remanufacturing.

Independent Variable: Product design features and designer competencies.

Dependent Variable: Effectiveness of circular business models (leasing, refurbishment).

Controlled Variables: Product type (baby strollers), specific manufacturer, pilot program duration.

Strengths

• Provides practical insights into the strategic role of product designers in circular business models.
• Combines literature review with real-world case study data.

Critical Questions

• How can designers be trained to develop the necessary strategic competencies for circular business models?
• What are the trade-offs between designing for maximum durability and designing for ease of refurbishment or component replacement?

Extended Essay Application

• Investigate the design requirements for a specific product category to enable a successful leasing and refurbishment business model.
• Develop a framework for assessing the circularity potential of a product design in relation to its business model.

Source

The Role of Product Design in Creating Circular Business Models: A Case Study on the Lease and Refurbishment of Baby Strollers · Sustainability · 2018 · 10.3390/su10072415