A review of sustainability within product and industrial design courses in British universities

This paper presents preliminary research from a doctoral study which is investigating effective sustainable product design education in British universities, with respect to how social aspects are incorporated. The findings detailed and discussed in this paper relate to an online survey of academics that teach on undergraduate and postgraduate Product and Industrial design courses within the UK, undertaken between October and December 2009. The results show that the teaching of sustainability is more widespread than previous reports have suggested, with most respondents evidencing the consideration of social, environmental and economic considerations in their teaching. The respondents’ attitude towards sustainability within design education is also shown to be strong. This paper finishes by outlining further work to be undertaken by investigating best practice in the teaching of sustainable product design.