Modular design towards the circular economy – From ‘making to unmake’ to ‘making to remake'

Authors

  • Lucia Pietroni University of Camerino (Italy)
  • Alessandro Di Stefano University of Camerino (Italy)
  • Daniele Galloppo University of Camerino (Italy)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.19229/2464-9309/14232023

Keywords:

modular design, circular economy, repairability, re-manufacturability, durability

Abstract

Given the recent debate regarding the transition to the Circular Economy, Design for Modularity strategies play a decisive role in the process of transforming the current economic model from linear to circular. By describing some recently developed modular product case studies, this article intends to outline the considerations developed in the field of design culture for sustainability, on the concept of modularity. In recent years, this has shifted from the industrial logic of ‘making to unmake’, namely designing modular and disassemblable products mainly to recycle their end-of-life materials, to the logic of ‘making to remake’, to increase their circularity and durability, thereby making them reusable, repairable and remanufacturable. The objective of this contribution is to re-examine the concept of ‘modularity’ in the Circular Economy scenario, as a strategic design lever to extend the useful life of industrial products.

 

Article info

Received: 12/09/2023; Revised: 16/10/2023; Accepted: 22/10/2023

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Author Biographies

Lucia Pietroni, University of Camerino (Italy)

She is a Full Professor of Industrial Design at the SAAD, where she is the Director of the Master in Eco-design & Eco-innovation. She is a founding member of SID (Italian Design Society) and a member of the Board of Directors since 2018; she has served as President of EcodesignLab Srl, a spin-off of UniCam, since 2013. Her main research areas are sustainable and bio-inspired design, design for safety, and design-led innovation processes.
E-mail: lucia.pietroni@unicam.it

Alessandro Di Stefano, University of Camerino (Italy)

Designer, he is a PhD Candidate in Innovation Design at SAAD. His research focuses on circular design as well as the potential of digital fabrication software and technologies through the investigation of critical production, technical and aesthetic issues in industrial design.
E-mail: alessandro.distefano@unicam.it

Daniele Galloppo, University of Camerino (Italy)

Designer, he is a Researcher in Industrial Design at SAAD. He conducts research mainly in the field of design for environmental sustainability, focusing on the contribution made by innovative materials and production processes for the evolution of industrial products and on the Design for Safety. He is a founding member of EcodesignLab Srl, a spin-off of UniCam, as of 2013.
E-mail: daniele.galloppo@unicam.it

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Published

31-12-2023

How to Cite

Pietroni, L., Di Stefano, A. and Galloppo, D. (2023) “Modular design towards the circular economy – From ‘making to unmake’ to ‘making to remake’”, AGATHÓN | International Journal of Architecture, Art and Design, 14, pp. 274–283. doi: 10.19229/2464-9309/14232023.

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