Towards an increased user focus in life cycle engineering

Abstract

Traditionally, Life Cycle Engineering has had a limited focus on the use stage of products; also sustainable product design research and education has mainly focused on material and end-of-life aspects. With a new found focus on the use stage, as in the research area of Design for Sustainable Behaviour (DfSB), a better understanding of how a focus on behavioural aspects can reduce life cycle impacts has emerged. Preliminary findings from on-going DfSB research were used as basis for the development of a method to guide designers in selecting promising design principles that can contribute to change user behaviour into more environmentally friendly patterns. This method is presented, and it is reflected upon to what extent this method is suitable and relevant for Life Cycle Engineers to apply. It is concluded that the embedded requirements for designerly thinking may make earlier steps in the method less suitable for engineers to participate in, but collaboration between designers and engineers in the last steps may be key to make the most out of the synergy between designerly and engineerly thinking.