What is Design for Planet?

Can design save the world?

As designers, we want to create things that make a difference. And there are so many ways to create beautiful products and services that are also good for the planet. We’ve collected a few tips and examples of planet-centric design for you to get inspired. 🌲👇

Design for Planet is all about understanding the consequences of our daily actions and how they shape the planet and environment we live in...

These are 3 main directions Design for Planet focuses on👇👇

Design resilient places

Regenerate natural resources

Design products that make it easy and attractive to live sustainably

So How can you design for Planet?

Tip #1 Put the planet at the heart of your brief 💗

🌍 Make the planet one of your stakeholders! If the planet sat on a chair, what would it say about the brief?

🐝 For example, Green & Blue put bees at the heart of their project. They produce bricks with narrow holes so bees can use them as a home.

Tip #2. Design beyond the lifecycle of a product

In typical projects, we would think about product lifecycle - what happens when customers use it? When designing for the planet, look beyond the typical lifecycle.

♻️ Rethink what happens to a product after it is used? How you can make it reusable and recyclable?

🚗 Rethink materials lifecycle to reduce emissions and waste. Where do they come from? This might be done through a Product Journey Map or using Material Journey Mapping that allows designers to design the full lifecycle of a product, as outlined in the Circular Design Guide.

For example,🍄 🍄 Ecovative design turns packaging upside down with mycelium. This packaging can be easily composted and turns out, it can help you grow nice food in your garden!

Tip #3. Put re-use at the center

Composting is not always possible, so think about how you can motivate users to re-use products. Check new types of financing models and how can you reuse materials from different companies.

🔈For example, Gerrard Street produces modular headphones. The design allows 85% of components to be reused. There’s no glue involved - so it’s easy to disassemble. Their subscription model allows users to repair or replace their headphones..🏃

For example, the CauliBox app allows Londoners to borrow a lunch box in specific locations and return it to their kiosk.

Tip #4. Make it easy for people to to live sustainably.

🚕 Take taxi service - it is very cheap and accessible for people but the platform suggests using cars more. So what does this service mean for the environment?

💳  Doconomy is a credit card that tracks and measures the carbon footprint for each purchase. The service suggests users to compensate for emissions by supporting projects that reduce future emissions...

What’s more, Doconomy's Premium Card doesn't allow you to buy stuff after you've hit your carbon quote.

Tip #5. Give all the tools and methods to your team.

Visit a waste processing site, adapt Circular Design Guide or Distruptive Design Method. Or just let your team spend more time in nature!

Do you want to know more methods on how to make products for good? Join our UX Safari in London – UX & Product Design Week!