What does it take to put circular design principles into action? This DLD Circular session highlights the important role that product designers play in creating a sustainable economy.
The panel discussion, moderated by journalist Amit Katwala, brings together Daniela Bohlinger (BMW Group), Joe Iles, Circular Design Programme Lead at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation; and Jessie Storey (Steelcase).
“It’s impossible to get away from the idea that designers have helped build today’s economy, the linear economy”, Iles observes – so it seems only logical that they should be part of the solution as well.
“The superpower of design is to take all these great ideas that are very complex, hard to break down, hard to digest and often very abstract and to make something tangible out of it”, Jessie Storey says.
To really have an impact, Daniela Bohlinger adds, the concept of a circular economy must include “understanding the holistic connection between everything”.
She also advocates for more collaboration and explains how sustainability can become desirable to consumers.
“The new luxury is embedded sustainability”, Bohlinger argues, “and it’s just the matter of redesigning luxury, getting the old out and embracing the new design, the new look.”
