Department of Arts

Sustainable design is a complex area that integrates a wide range of environmental, social and economic criteria. This paper is part of a research (www.designsustentavel.org) that intends to develop a toolkit and information for wood furniture designers to use in their work process and that should push this product range closer to the sustainable production and consumption system. In the course of this research it has been understood that the available information on social criteria is more general and difficult to implement by designers. Not only it appeared to be distant from the designer’s area of influence, but also too scarce and general when compared with environmental criteria already in use on ecodesign tools. The profusion of environmental criteria versus the lack of proper social criteria creates an imbalance on the available decision supporting criteria for the product development team. To tackle this problem the research team analysed the social issues proposed by ISO 26000 and conducted an expert workshop to establish relevant social criteria for this industrial sector that were within reach of the designer action. This paper presents (1) the process of selection, analysis, reflection and discussion of relevant subjects, (2) the effort to involve the stakeholders and (3) the main findings of this process considering the specific characteristics of the wood furniture sector in Portugal.

This paper aims to provide an analysis of the different types of available ecodesign tools, their benefits, capabilities and problems, to understand how these instruments could serve as a foundation for developing a practical body for sustainable product design, thus allowing the design to be able to promote a shift to a paradigm of sustainable production and consumption.

ABSTRACT & KEY WORDS
The scope of this research is delimited by the intersection of design with sustainability, particularly in relation with the two pillars of sustainability that need further attention: ecology and social equity. Following recommendations of previous investigations and in order to enhance the selection of relevant aspects between design and sustainability, this work was developed through an approach focused on a specific industrial sector: the sector of home furniture that uses wood as its main raw material.
This research aims to contribute to the paradigm shift to a system of sustainable production and consumption through the activity of design, namely creating tools and information which allows equipping the design process used in the development of furniture with ways to integrate social and environmental criteria. With the pursuit of this objective it is also expected to be able to contribute to the development of a practical body for sustainable design based on the information and tools of ecodesign.
In methodological terms this is a mixed research, using mainly qualitative methods. The research process was designed in three major phases: a first theoretical phase where it is made a book review about sustainability, its environmental and social responsibility aspects, about sustainable design, what are its main characteristics and changing needs from ecodesign, and on the furniture industry, its products, impacts and strategies. Literary criticism has been supplemented with the analysis of case studies of the ecodesign furniture sector projects where there has been observed the application of strategies and tools. The second phase is empirical and covers the three methods used for collecting and creating new data on the relationship between this business sector and design, on the main problems of the sector's products and their needs and on the criteria that we need to include, in particular social criteria that are still very vague, in order to have a relevant approach for this sector and in reach of the design activity. The third phase encompasses the development process of a range of tools called SDF Toolkit and the testing process of the referred toolkit by professional designers and product design students.
The main conclusion is related to the fact that it is possible to develop useful and pedagogical tools that address the most relevant aspects of sustainability without holding such a complexity that is an inhibitor factor for their use by designers. The explicitness and ease of integration in the design process are essential to the effectiveness of the toolkit as potential agent of integration of environmental and social criteria in the product development process.
The second most important conclusion is that the use of an approach focused in a sector with specific characteristics, by allowing a greater focus and efficiency and being complemented with the use of the knowledge of ecodesign and the development of appropriate social criteria in reach of design, is an appropriate contribution to the practical development of sustainable design in order to give it operational capacity.

KEYWORDS
Sustainable Design;
Design Tools;
Wood Furniture;
Environmental and Social Criteria;
Life Cycle Approach;

This article discusses the vernacular dwelling, focusing its study on the domestic space of the kitchen, especially in the wooden furniture. For generations, these artefacts have allowed an experience tailored to the needs of the population and within the carrying capacity of ecosystems. It’s made an analysis and diagnosis of the main features of these objects, within the context of the Minho region habits and the sustainability principles that should underlie the development of new products. This analysis enabled the identification of some features that can be used in the development of contemporary objects. As a result, two directions are proposed to implement and reinterpret this knowledge. For each direction is presented a case study.

This article discusses the vernacular dwelling, focusing its study on the domestic space of the kitchen, especially in the wooden furniture. For generations, these artefacts have allowed an experience tailored to the needs of the population and within the carrying capacity of ecosystems. It’s made an analysis and diagnosis of the main features of these objects, within the context of the Minho region habits and the sustainability principles that should underlie the development of new products. This analysis enabled the identification of some features that can be used in the development of contemporary objects. As a result, two directions are proposed to implement and reinterpret this knowledge. For each direction is presented a case study.

This research focused on relating the ability a sustainable design approach can have when working with the wood furniture sector, in order to improve its products environmental and social impact. This research used a methodology comprised of a literature review on sustainable design and on the characterization of the Portuguese wood furniture industry, followed by case-study analysis of wood furniture projects that used environmental design strategies in their development. The main empirical task was a survey to the sector with the goal of understanding the know-how and relationship this companies have with design and sustainability. Results show that companies use design as a main tool for product development, but not for environmental impact reduction, as their engagement with sustainability is far from implemented. The use of sustainable product design tools is expected to have a great effect in the change of current practices. Recommendations for future researches are also presented.