As part of the project “Circular Design – Getting from theory into practice” which is part of the RTI Initiative Circular Economy by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Action, the importance of circular design in Austrian companies was investigated. The starting point of the study is the set of “Circular Design Rules” developed by the Institute of Design Research Vienna, from which question sets were derived for both companies and design professionals.

The study revealed that many companies recognize circular design as a key success factor for the implementation of the circular economy. However, current measures often focus only on incremental improvements. In many cases, individual repair options or the use of recycled materials take center stage, while a holistic design approach in the spirit of circular design is still rarely implemented.

Although the key role of design in circular product development is acknowledged, only 13% of companies report having already collaborated with designers in this area. At the same time, designers rate their own knowledge of circular design as high. With targeted involvement, designers could promote innovative solutions that not only extend product lifespans but also enable new, sustainable business models. However, the study also shows that companies often do not associate design expertise with business model innovation within the scope of design services.

Currently, 40% of companies implement their circular design activities in cooperation with universities and universities of applied sciences. The study therefore recommends establishing Circular Design Labs at design universities. These labs aim to strengthen the expertise of design professionals and offer companies a space where circular design can be explored and translated into practice.

Download the full report here (in German) oder unter: http://www.nachhaltigwirtschaften.at

Circular Design Innovation Tool: https://cdr.tools

Regenerative Design Lab (University of Applied Arts Vienna): https://www.instituteofdesign.at/regenerative-design-lab/

Projectpartner:

Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien - Institute for Production Management (IPM)

Design Austria (DA)

Circular Economy Forum Austria (CEFA)

Institute for Design Research Vienna (IDRV)