Preparing the way for mainstream sustainable product design – methods and approaches to inspire change

This paper proposes that there is a need to prepare undergraduate design students to be responsible practitioners when they enter the work place. The multifaceted approach adopted by the Design School at Loughborough University, to achieve this, is presented. The paper outlines and reflects on the differences between the idealistic environment that is provided within an educational setting and the actual situation in the design industry, where there is little evidence of mainstream sustainable design practice. The paper concludes that it is valuable to provide students with a range of skills which support sustainable design thinking, even if they are not at present required by the design industry, as it means that they leave university as informed individuals with the potential to lead the next generation of design practitioners.