Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2019

Keywords

Sustainable business model; Mentally disabled; Co-design; Up-cycling

Abstract

The project describes design students learning sustainability in a tertiary institute setting. A class was engaged in a live collaborative project with an NGO where they were asked to work with mentally disabled collaborators in designing, making and marketing of original upcycled products in Hong Kong. By understanding sustainable design and its importance for the future, design students apply principles learned and gained first-hand experience in seeing the potential of sustainable designs. The intention was to embed strong awareness of sustainability to all participants. Students, mentally disabled and their carers, wooden waste suppliers, as well as teaching staff were the main stakeholders in this project. Students explored ways in which design can create environmental, social and economic value for the NGO. The methodology used to assess project effectiveness involved making direct observations and post-project stakeholder interviews. These methods shed light on the appropriateness of project design, environmental, and economic outcomes of the project. Over the course of a 14 week semester, students learned how to conduct waste material exploration, co-design, iterative design, prototype testing, hands-on making and branding/marketing. Upon post project review, students felt achieving effective collaboration with mentally disabled was the biggest challenge, while embracing sustainable design principles through making upcycled products was considered a stimulating journey. Overall, they were able to answer project objectives and to achieve positive outcomes in this project.

Source Publication

The IAFOR International Conference on Sustainability, Energy & the Environment

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