Learn how to
design for circularity

Making design circular

There is no waste in nature — only humans produce waste. Our current approach to the lifecycle of a product is as unsustainable as it gets: we extract finite materials from the earth, manufacture short-lived products, and then discard them as ever-accumulating waste. Nature, instead, works in a circular way — nothing is wasted, everything is transformed. We can design our way out of waste and inefficiency, by implementing a circular economy inspired by nature. Circularity is all about turning the lifecycles of products into closed loops so that when a product reaches the end of its life, its materials can easily be used to create new products. Circular designs are often modular, repairable, timeless and made to last. This regenerative way of understanding “making” is underpinned by a transition to renewable energy and sustainable materials. Circularity gives us an exciting model to reimagine our whole economy for a better future — while creating prosperity and amazing products in the process.

Circularity in education curricula

From fashion to architecture, product design to communication, every creative discipline shapes how materials flow through our economy. Yet many design schools still teach with a linear mindset, focusing on novelty, aesthetics, or profit over sustainability. Reforming curricula to include systems thinking, lifecycle analysis, and circular design principles can equip emerging designers to become agents of transformation. This includes hands-on repair education, designing for disassembly, working with waste materials, and learning about social and ecological impact. Design education reform is key to seeding long-term cultural change—so that circularity is not a niche idea, but the foundation for how all creative practitioners think and work.

Circular design standards

Design is the most powerful intervention point in a product’s lifecycle. Embedding circular principles—like modularity, repairability, and non-toxic materials—into design standards can drastically reduce environmental harm and extend product life. Modularity allows components to be upgraded or replaced rather than discarded; repairability empowers users and local repairers; excluding toxic substances protects both ecosystems and human health. These principles can be scaled through industry certification schemes or baked into national regulation—shifting entire sectors toward circularity by design.

Community repair networks

Repair culture is a core pillar of circularity, but access to tools, spaces, and expertise is often limited. Investing in community repair hubs, tool libraries, and creative reuse centres can turn circular practices into public services. These spaces offer workshops, repair assistance, and material diversion from landfills, while building local resilience, skills, and connections. When paired with apprenticeships or school partnerships, they can make circularity inclusive, accessible, and community-led, turning every neighbourhood into a hub for sustainable action.

Circular procurement

Public sector procurement wields immense influence, with governments and local authorities spending billions annually. By prioritising products that support reuse, remanufacturing, and regenerative materials, procurement policies can drive demand for circular businesses. For example, specifying that office furniture comes from remanufactured suppliers or requiring electronics contracts to include take-back and repair services. This approach reduces waste, cuts emissions, and fosters local green economies by supporting circular SMEs. Strategic procurement can mainstream sustainability, setting a clear example for schools, hospitals, and public offices.

Radical imagination and future positivity

Radical imagination refers to the capacity to envision and create radically different futures that challenge the status quo and move us towards a more just and sustainable world. By using radical imagination to explore new possibilities, we can break free from the constraints of current thinking and systems and create new pathways for action.

Thinking of alternative futures involves reimagining our current economic, social, and political systems and considering how they could be transformed to prioritize sustainability and equity. This process requires us to challenge our assumptions about what is possible and to explore alternative ways of organizing society that prioritize the well-being of people and the planet.