Design for Sustainability and Circular Economies (Certificate, L9,10 ECTS)

Program Overview

This part-time, 12-week certificate program in Design for Sustainability and Circular Economies equips design professionals with strategies for incorporating sustainability and circular economy principles into their work. It covers topics such as sustainable design approaches, circular economy principles, policy and certification, LCA tools, and regenerative design practices. Delivered in a blended format with expert specialists and in-person sessions, the program culminates in a final project and prepares participants for careers in sustainable design.

Program Outline

The program aims to:

• Increase awareness: Highlight opportunities and challenges facing design practices in the context of sustainability and circular economies.
• Critical evaluation: Encourage a critical examination of current cultural, social, economic, and ecological landscapes, and existing design models and approaches.
• Skill development: Equip participants with the tools and knowledge to adopt regenerative, circular, and sustainable practices in their design work.
• Address global challenges: Provide the means to enact meaningful change and future-proof design processes.

Outline:

• Semester 1:
It includes case studies and best practices to illustrate these concepts.
• Circular Economy (CE) Principles and application: This module delves into the principles of the circular economy and how they can be applied in design practice.
• Policy, Legislation, Standardisation and Certification in DfS: This module examines relevant policies, legislation, standards, and certifications related to sustainable design.
• LCA ( Life Cycle Assessment), Overview of LCA tools, simplified applied LCA for designers: This module introduces Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) as a tool for evaluating the environmental impact of products and processes.
• Material Flow and Production: This module explores the flow of materials in production processes and their environmental implications.
• Social Corporate Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental Responsibility: This module examines the concepts of social corporate responsibility and environmental responsibility in design.
• Marketing ‘Sustainable Design’ and managing customer / user expectations: This module focuses on marketing sustainable design effectively and managing customer expectations.
• Sustainable Product Service Systems (SPSS): This module explores the concept of sustainable product service systems, which focus on providing services rather than solely products.
• Delivery:
• The course is delivered over 12 weeks in a blended format, combining online learning with in-person sessions.
• 10 weeks of online studio (3 hours per week) + 2 in-person days (LSAD)

Assessment:

• Continuous Assessment + Final Project: The program utilizes a combination of continuous assessment and a final project to evaluate student learning.

Teaching:

• Expert Specialists: The course is guided by expert specialists in the field of sustainable design.
• Online Learning Format: The majority of the course is delivered through an online learning platform.

Other:

• Co-created with Design Skillnet: The program has been developed in collaboration with Design Skillnet.
• IDI (Institute of Designers in Ireland) and Design Skillnet Membership: Members of the IDI and Design Skillnet are eligible for a discounted, grant-aided course fee.

Full course fee €1,400 – €939 via Design Skillnet. Eligible applicants can avail of a co-funding of €461