Greening the design brief

Front End Innovation is a hot research topic, but there is still little research done on its relationship to design for sustainability. This paper explores the challenges of integrating environmental sustainability in this early stages of an innovation process and the design brief. The study is based on a content analysis of 35 design briefs from Belgian SMEs and multinationals, and a practitioners session with representatives from 14 Belgian companies. This results indicate a limited uptake of sustainability in Belgian design briefs. Furthermore, it argues that the use of certain strategies, such as front-loading, pushing sustainability upstream in the briefing process and sustainability opportunity identification in the front end, could help in greening the design brief

Virtual Round Table on Innovation for Smart and Sustainable Cities

A Dialogue between Paola Clerici Maestosi and Giovanni Vetritto (IT), Olga Kordas (SE), Johhanes Brezet (NL/DK) and Jonas Bylund (SE

Facilitating creative networks

This research reflects on the potential of innovation networks made up of ‘creative hubs’ as facilitators of design in a local context, by using the SPRNG! project from Leeuwarden as a case study, analyzing the initiative based on a systemic multilevel design perspective. In this approach, an iterative four phase cyclic design process is being combined with a hierarchical systems perspective (Joore 2012). Briefly described, creative hubs are physical spaces that host artists, designers, small companies, collaborations or events related to these. While providing networking opportunities, these hubs also help creative individuals to achieve their aims. Creative hubs receive many different names, varying from ‘collectives’ to ‘incubators’, yet it is possible to identify a common goal of improving creative businesses holistically

A Design Thinking Framework for Circular Business Model Innovation

Purpose Circular business model innovation (CBMI) can support sustainable business transitions, but the process is poorly understood and there is a lack of tools to assist companies in the CBMI process. This paper works towards closing these gaps, by developing a framework for CBMI based on a design thinking approach, which can support the CBMI process in companies and induce organizational transformation towards more sustainable business. Design The CBMI framework was developed in connection with a multiple case study in which six companies created circular business models in collaboration with the researchers. Findings A design thinking process typically consists of three innovation phases: an exploratory, an ideation, and a prototyping and testing space. Yet, the developed framework advocates two additional spaces, namely an introductory and an alignment space. The results attained in the six case companies indicate that the developed framework is useful for CBMI in diverse organizational settings. Practical implications The study contributes with a framework to help practitioners facilitate and maneuver the challenging CBMI process. The framework provides guidelines to follow, and inspiration for CBMI-specific and general tools that could be adapted to a given organizational setting. Value The contribution of the paper is an empirically founded framework to assist CBMI. The paper also offers a conceptual overview of the CBMI process, and links CBMI to an organizational transformation towards the circular economy

Natural Blends, Sustainable Innovations and Income Growth

Abstract: The paper discusses innovations for both income growth and the generation of better environmental qualities. This is possible in theory but progress in practices is slow. We argue that social pressures to contain pollution were effective insofar they invoked environmental policies all over the world, which enabled to reduce pollution in some countries at decreasing costs. This is achieved in the past five decades despite fierce resistance of vested interests in industries and policymaking. Economies are still extremely wasteful but there is progress in many countries toward ecoefficiency, which is illustrated for the European Union. In the future, a growing demand for sustainability is expected. This demand is not primarily because of costly natural resource in consumption, they decrease in real prices, but due to the changes in social structures towards more knowledge work and growing leisure time. The knowledge work and leisure time require more personal interactions even though the labour costs increase and more environmental qualities through cleaner production and consumption. These demands invoke innovations that blend environmental qualities with artefacts. Such natural blends are highly demanded and the qualified blends are highly paid. Sustainable innovations through blending of natural and cultural attributes are in progress. Innovators become a driving force for sustainability and the innovative networks key elements for the resulting outcomes. These networks entail distributed business models. Environmental qualities constitute highly demanded values. The challenge is to translate this social sense of urgency into new policies and market arrangements in support of innovators for sustainable development

A Multilevel Design Model: The Mutual Relationship Between Product-Service System Development and Societal Change Processes

Change actors like designers play a strategic role in innovation and transition processes towards a sustainable society. They act at all levels of society and need help to find their way through increasingly interrelated innovation systems. To support their efforts, there is a need for a design supportive model that (1) can provide insight into the development of new products and product-service systems, as well as in developments that occur in society as a whole; (2) can provide insight into the relationship between functional problems on the one hand, and more abstract societal problems on the other; (3) describe design processes, change processes and transition processes in a consistent, mutually comparable manner that can potentially be used to structure future design-based initiatives. In this paper a Multilevel Design Model (MDM) is discussed, combining two specific functionalities: First a cyclic iterative design approach that may be generic enough to describe both the design of physical artefacts and the design of product-service systems, as well as the way that complex societal change processes may occur. Second a hierarchical systems approach, where on each aggregation level a similar description of the design, change or transition process is applied. The MDM is discussed by means of a simulated case example in the area sustainable transportation and electric transport, explaining the model may indeed be useful to describe and potentially explain some of the dilemmas that occur during the course of complex design processes

The entrepreneurship factor in sustainable tourism development

Entrepreneurship is considered a central force of economic development, as it generates growth and serves as a vehicle for innovation and change., Tourism is one of the economic sectors in which a great degree of involvement is needed by the entrepreneurial sector: diversification of tourism products and services is needed to cope with increased demand for new types of tourism needs. These include opportunities for more sustainable tourism. The Soderslatt region of Sweden, which is used as a case study, is a newborn tourist destination with lots of natural and cultural characteristics. It is also one of the most agriculture intensive areas in Sweden where a potential for rural entrepreneurship development can be identified. However, the entrepreneurial culture and climate Was poor in the region. This is due to the social pressure that is characteristic for this rural community. This paper shows the results of a SWOT analysis of Soderslatt tourism entrepreneurship development, which gives an overview of their current entrepreneurial situation. The case of a family-based enterprise, "Healthy Pig Farm" is presented as an example of a successful, innovative entrepreneur in farm tourism. Moreover, based on the findings and analyses, several recommendations are proposed to overcome obstacles for sustainable entrepreneurship development in rural tourist areas