Materials and their ecological impact cannot be generalised - it is defined by our actions. The whole journey - from choosing a type of processing which affects energy and water consumption, to the implementation of the concept and product presentation - counts in terms of how environmentally friendly the material is (then the product and then, yet again, the material). It is a whole system of material handling and it is the design, industry and political decision-making that defines the material circulation and its environmental impact.
The development of alternative materials and the associated strengthening of interdisciplinary relations,combined with the circular economy can lead to a more environmentally conscious design approach and more responsible handling of materials. At the same time, the shift towards design responsibility necessarily leads to a greater degree of cooperation and ways of involving consumer in the role of co-creator. There is a trend of shifting the role of responsible designer to a more educational level: sharing of knowledge, information and experience, and thus contributing to education and promotion of possibilities, return to crafts and emphasis on local production. The LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) method provides specific data on the degree of responsibility which can quantify the impact of the entire product life cycle on the environment. In the Czech academic environment, with a few exceptions, the interconnection structures between designers and scientists don't yet work. However, the situation is slowly improving.
The development of alternative materials and the associated strengthening of interdisciplinary relations,combined with the circular economy can lead to a more environmentally conscious design approach and more responsible handling of materials. At the same time, the shift towards design responsibility necessarily leads to a greater degree of cooperation and ways of involving consumer in the role of co-creator. There is a trend of shifting the role of responsible designer to a more educational level: sharing of knowledge, information and experience, and thus contributing to education and promotion of possibilities, return to crafts and emphasis on local production. The LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) method provides specific data on the degree of responsibility which can quantify the impact of the entire product life cycle on the environment. In the Czech academic environment, with a few exceptions, the interconnection structures between designers and scientists don't yet work. However, the situation is slowly improving.
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The project was renewed with the support of the Specific Research FaVu BUT and is one of the outputs of Valentýna Landa Filípková's dissertation.
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