Mapping the practice of circular design: a survey study with industrial designers and architects in the Netherlands and Sweden

Journal article, 2024

Designers have an important role in the transition to a circular economy (CE), and circular design is a central theme in the recent popularisation of the CE concept in business and policy environments. Yet, the implications of circular design for design practice remain largely unknown. To date, there have been few quantitative studies assessing the adoption and the foci of design practitioners regarding circular design. This study investigates the current foci, efforts, challenges, and knowledge needs of design practitioners related to circular design. A survey was conducted with 114 design practitioners in the Netherlands and Sweden within the disciplines of architecture and industrial design. The study found that 63% of the participants had experience with CE-focused projects and only 16% reported that no changes have occurred within their organisation to adapt to a CE. Differences were found in implemented design strategies between CE-focused and non-CE-focused projects, and between architects and industrial designers.