The research project presented in this paper intends to develop tools that product designers can use in their work in order to enable a more sustainable outcome. The project is based on the principle that sustainable design is the next...
moreThe research project presented in this paper intends to develop tools that product designers can use in their work in order to enable a more sustainable outcome. The project is based on the principle that sustainable design is the next step for ecodesign, because, besides the economic and ecologic values, it includes all aspects related with sustainable development, and aims to turn this principle into a more practical and workable subject.
Based on the conclusions of several authors that principles, strategies and tools have a best performance when oriented to a specific kind of product, the project focuses its approach on a specific sector: domestic wood furniture.
This paper presents the state of the art of the overlap in product design methods, ecodesign tools, furniture products life cycle information and sustainability. Furthermore, this paper will also discuss the possibility of reaching a sustainable design practice in this sector through a focused approach.