1. course System Design for Sustainability
Subject 6. Methods and tools for System Design for Sustainability
learning resource 6.2
Sustainability-orienting system design tools
carlo vezzoli
politecnico di milano . DESIGN dept. . DIS . School of Design . Italy
Learning Network on Sustainability (EU asia-link)
Learning Network on Sustainabile energy systems (EU edulink)
Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy

2. CONTENTS
. System design orientation towards sustainability
. Sustainability Design-Orienting (SDO) toolkit
. Sustainability Interaction story-spot
Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy

3. [… NOT ALL SYSTEM INNOVATION ARE ECO-EFFICENT
AND/OR SOCIALLY EQUITABLE AND COHESIVE!]
> SUSTAINABLE CRITERIA AND GUIDELINES ARE
NEEDED
> METHODS AND TOOLS ARE NEEDED to orientate
design towards SUSTAINABLE system stakeholder
interactions
Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy

4. SUATAINABILITY SUSTAINABILITY ORIENTING DESIGN/DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
EFFECTIVENESS TOOLS/PROCESSES PRODUCT, SERVICE, SYSTEM
+ existing system evaluat.
(understanding and priorities) A
strategic analysis
system concept
concept orientation B stakeholders interactions concept
system concept product concept service concept
evaluation/visualisation C
(system concept
system design
evaluation/visualisation A’) stakeholders interactions design
system design orientation B’
product design service design
designed system
evaluation/visualisation C’’
(designed system
system engin.
evaluation/visualisation A’’)
stakeholders interactions engineering
_
system engineering orientation
B’’ product service
enginered system engineering engineering
evaluation/visualisation C’’
Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy

5. MSDS (main) SUSTAINABILITY ORIENTING
DESIGN TOOLS:
. Sustainability Design-Orienting toolkit (SDO)
. Sustainability Interaction Story-Spot
Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy

6. DESCPRIPTION OF SDS TOOLS
. aims and description
. how to use
. integration in the MSDS design process
. software and/or other supports
Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy

7. SUSTAINABILITY DESIGN-ORIENTING (SDO) TOOLKIT
AIM
orientate system design process
towards sustainable solutions
(environmental, socio-ethical,
economic)
WHAT IT CONSISTS OF:
a modular software toolkit supporting the following
processes:
- A: existing system qualitative analysis/prioritisation of
sustainability criteria/guidelines
- B: best practices analysis/identify sustainable existing
options
- C: generate sustainability-focused idea
- D: check/visualise sustainability
improvement/worsening of developed concept/s
Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy

8. SDO STRUCTURE:
SUSTAINABILITY DIMENSIONS<CRITERIA<GUIDELINES
sustainability dimensions criteria guidelines
principles distinguished areas designer-BRIDGE- addressing potential
analyst improvement
• guideline
(e.g. on-site
future generation criterion 1 production/assembly)
(e.g. transportation
• guideline
environmental reduction)
(e.g. use local resources)
environmental •…
preservation
criterion 2 •…
(e.g. system life optim.)
social equity … criteria 3-6 •…
and cohesion
socio-ethical … criteria 1-6 •…
economic
prosperity
economic … criteria 1-6 •…
Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy

9. ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA (GUIDELINES)
to evaluate/suggest system eco-efficency
(stakeholder innovative interactions)
. system life optimisation
. transportation/distribution reduction
. resources reduction
. waste minimisation/valorisation
. conservation/biocompatibility
. toxic reduction
Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy

10. SOCIO-ETHIC CRITERIA (GUIDELINES)
to evaluate/suggest system social equity and cohesion
(stakeholder innovative interactions)
. improve employment/working conditions
. increase equity/justice in relation to stakeholders
. enable responsible/sustainable consumption
. favour/integrate the weak and marginalized
. improve social cohesion
. empower/enhance local resources
Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy

11. HOW TO USE THE SUSTAINABILITY
DESIGN-ORIENTING (SDO)?
Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy

12. 0. LOGIN [if requested]
to start type:
username and password
and click on OK
Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy

13. 0. LOAD/NEW PROJECT select a
[www.sdo-lens.polimi.it] language
type projct name to be loaded (if
existing) or created (if new)
click on OK
Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy

14. 0. STARTING DATA (MENÙ)
fields to be
filled
select the
sustainability
dimension to
work on and
click (e.g.
environmen.)
Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy

15. C. GENERATE “SUSTAINABLE IDEAS” BY BRAINSTORM.
cliclk on
set
priorities
Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy

16. A. ENVIRONMENTAL/SUSTAINABILITY PRIORITIES DEF.
select a define priorities: visualise one by one the
criterion No, Low, evaluation checklists
Medium, High (for each criterion)
write
answers,
one for
each
checklist,
evaluating
existing
system
(for each
criterion)
Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy

17. C. GENERATE “SUSTAINABLE IDEAS” BY BRAINSTORM.
cliclk on
orientate
concept
Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy

18. C. GENERATE “SUSTAINABLE IDEAS” BY BRAINSTORM.
select one by one the idea tables
read the guidelinees at
(one for each criterion; start
the system level
form those with high prioriitiies)
(a set for each criterion)
click on the
button and
type emerged
ideas
Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy

19. C. GENERATE “SUSTAINABLE IDEAS” BY BRAINSTORM.
select one by one the idea tables
read the guidelinees at the
(one for each criterion; start
system level
form those with high prioriitiies)
(a set for each criterion)
click on the
button and
type emerged
ideas
Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy

20. D. SUSTAINABILITY CHECK OF IN PROGRESS SYSTEM
CONCEPT
cliclk on
check
concept
Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy

21. D. CHECK IN PROGRESS SYSTEM CONCEPT
visualise one by one the
select a define evaluation checklists
criterion improvement (for each criterion)
radar env.
write
answers,
one for each
checklist,
comparing
concept with
existing
system
(for each
criterion)
Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy

22. D. VISUALISE IN PROGRESS SYSTEM CONCEPT
priority of existing system
select concept
concept improvement (e.g. Low)
check
(e.g. +)
type text
synthethising
improvement
for each IMPROVEMENT…
criterion
(sust.
dimension)
Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy

23. D. VISUALISE IN PROGRESS SYSTEM CONCEPT
select concept
concept improvement check
(e.g. +)
per other
sustanibility
dimension,
e.g. socio-
ethical
type text
synthethising
improvement
for each IMPROVEMENT…
criterion
(sust.
dimension)
Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy

24. SDO
integration in the design process STRATEGIC ANALYSIS
ANALYSIS OF THE PROJECT PROMOTERS
per each sustainability dimension ANALYSIS OF THE REFERENCE CONTEXT
increasing the detail level ANALYSIS OF THE REFERENCE STRUCTURE
ANALYSIS OF BEST PRACTICES
A: prioritises sustain. DEFINITION OF SUSTAINABILITY DESIGN PRIORITIES
criteria/guidelines
[tool: checklist/existing EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES
IDEAS GENERATION ORIENTED TO SUSTAINABILITY
system]
DEVELEPMENT OF THE SUSTAINABILITY DESIGN
ORIENTING SCENARIO - VISIONS/CLUSTERS/IDEAS
B: analysis of sustainab.
best practices
SYSTEM CONCEPT DESIGN
[tool: checklist/case VISIONS, CLUSTERS AND IDEAS SELECTION
study; radars] SYSTEM CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
ENV, SOCIO-ET. & ECON. CHECK/VISUALISATION
C: sustainability-focused
idea generation SYSTEM DESIGN (AND ENGIN.)
[tool: idea tables + SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT (EXECUTIVE LEVEL)
guidelines] ENV, SOCIO-ET. & ECON. CHECK/VISUALISATION
D:sustainab. improv.
check/visualisat. COMMUNICATION
MULTIMEDIA REPORTING: OVERALL QUALITIES
[tool: checklist/concept;
Carlo Vezzoli MULTIMEDIA REPORTING: STAINABILITY QUALITIES
radars] di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy
Politecnico

25. SUSTAINABILITY DESIGN-ORIENTING (SDO) TOOLKIT
SOFTWARE AND OTHER SUPPORTS:
. free use on-line at www.sdo-lens.polimi.it
. free download for local installationfrom from “tool”
section of www.lens.polimi.it
. open source and copy left (admin section to change
and/or texts, e.g. criteria, guidelines, checklists, etc.)
. languages on-line: english, italian, portughese,
chinese, spanish
Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy

26. SUSTAINABILITY INTERACTION STORY-SPOT
(static)
AIM:
to visualise how the
concept help achieve the
sustainability criteria
WHAT IT CONSISTS OF:
one-shot graphical
representation
containing: some images
with short texts (key
sustainability
interactions),
accompanied with notes
highlighting main
achieved sustainability
criteria
Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy

27. SUSTAINABILITY INTERACTION STORY-SPOT
IMAGE
BACKGROUND
COLOR
SHORT TEXT
STAKEHOLDER
IDENTIFICATION
Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy

28. SUSTAINABILITY INTERACTION STORY-SPOT
GREEN COLOR:
USER/CLIENT
RED COLOR:
PROVIDER
Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy

29. SUSTAINABILITY INTERACTION STORY-SPOT
D
ES S A TO OV SO RI
IN LE I GIV C
C P CT W EM CI ON
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A
TH F A CA
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P FI T D T
OF
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E
N
ET
PIO IC
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IT
CR ECIF ION
O
S
F
DE SP ACT DS
A
ER
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A
I A S
T
TH ARD ENT O
E
W M
TO OVE EN AL
PR GIV ENT
IM A NM N
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VIR ITER
EN CR
Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy

30. SUSTAINABILITY INTERACTION STORY-SPOT
integration in the design process STRATEGIC ANALYSIS
ANALYSIS OF THE PROJECT PROMOTERS
per each sustainability dimension ANALYSIS OF THE REFERENCE CONTEXT
increasing the detail level ANALYSIS OF THE REFERENCE STRUCTURE
ANALYSIS OF BEST PRACTICES
DEFINITION OF SUSTAINABILITY DESIGN PRIORITIES
EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES
IDEAS GENERATION ORIENTED TO SUSTAINABILITY
DEVELEPMENT OF THE SUSTAINABILITY DESIGN
ORIENTING SCENARIO - VISIONS/CLUSTERS/IDEAS
visualise (only) key SYSTEM CONCEPT DESIGN
interactions VISIONS, CLUSTERS AND IDEAS SELECTION
underlining the SYSTEM CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
achieved ENV, SOCIO-ET. & ECON. CHECK/VISUALISATION
sustainability criteria
SYSTEM DESIGN (AND ENGIN.)
SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT (EXECUTIVE LEVEL)
ENV, SOCIO-ET. & ECON. CHECK/VISUALISATION
COMMUNICATION
MULTIMEDIA REPORTING: OVERALL QUALITIES
Carlo Vezzoli MULTIMEDIA REPORTING: STAINABILITY QUALITIES
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy

31. SUSTAINABILITY INTERACTION STORY-SPOT
SOFTWARE AND OTHER SUPPORTS:
www.lens.polimi.it / tool >
open library of images / places
Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy

32. SUSTAINABILITY INTERACTION STORY-SPOT
SOFTWARE AND OTHER SUPPORTS:
www.lens.polimi.it / tool >
open library of images / people
Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy

33. SUSTAINABILITY INTERACTION STORY-SPOT
SOFTWARE AND OTHER SUPPORTS:
www.lens.polimi.it / tool >
open library of images: combine images for visualszation
CONTEXT PEOPLE
IMAGES IMAGES
Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy