How Design Thinking Can Foster Environmental Sustainability: Integrating Design Thinking into Circular Design Guide

Abstract

The growing concern about environmental sustainability has given rise to a search for new methods and tools to apply to sustainable solutions. The concept of the Circular Economy (CE) has emerged as one powerful driver in the move towards sustainability. However, sustainable development is a wicked problem, and the transition towards a CE requires large societal changes. Design is a discipline that addresses complex challenges, and can be extended to critical areas of the sustainability field. However, a large number of Design Thinking (DT) publications are directed at design practitioners rather than academics. There is a lack of theoretical foundation to show how DT supports environmental sustainability. To address this gap, this study investigates the DT principle and analyzes the linkages between DT and the Circular Design Guide (CDG). The aim of this is to outline an approach from a theoretical perspective that can be applied to an extensive range of circular design challenges. A systematic and detailed analysis of the application of DT for the CDG is presented. The new integration framework allows a shift to solutions that are useful for stakeholders and are regenerative for the environment.