The strategic use of sustainable design: A case study on a large corporation

Abstract

The present article addresses some key constraints to enable a more strategic role of design within corporations, with a focus on the large opportunities set by the demands of sustainabi- lity. In order to illustrate such implications the author reports a case study developed within a Base-Of-Pyramid project of a large corporation where the challenge was the design of a Do- It-Yourself (DIY) shelf for low income houses. The project re- quirements involved the possibility of manufacturing, selling, distributing, assembling and maintaining the product within the low-income community. The project was aligned with the corporation’s strategic goals of expanding their socially inclu- sive businesses, thus enabling design to act strategically for the implementation of sustainable ideals.