1. Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy
course System Design for Sustainability
Subject 6. Methods and tools for System Design for Sustainability
learning resource 6.2
Sustainability-orienting system design
tools
carlo vezzoli
politecnico di milano . DESIGN dept. . DIS . School of Design . Italy
Learning Network on Sustainability (EU asia-link)
Learning Network on Sustainabile energy systems (EU edulink)

2. Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy
CONTENTS
. System design orientation towards sustainability
. Sustainability Design-Orienting (SDO) toolkit
. Sustainability Interaction story-spot

3. Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy
> SUSTAINABLE CRITERIA AND GUIDELINES ARE
NEEDED
> METHODS AND TOOLS ARE NEEDED to orientate
design towards SUSTAINABLE system stakeholder
interactions
[… NOT ALL SYSTEM INNOVATION ARE ECO-EFFICENT
AND/OR SOCIALLY EQUITABLE AND COHESIVE!]

4. Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy
product concept service concept
systemdesignsystemengin.
stakeholders interactions concept
product design service design
stakeholders interactions design
product
engineering
service
engineering
stakeholders interactions engineering
strategic analysis
systemconcept
SUSTAINABILITY ORIENTING
TOOLS/PROCESSES
DESIGN/DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
PRODUCT, SERVICE, SYSTEM
SUATAINABILITY
EFFECTIVENESS
+
_
system design orientation B’
(system concept
evaluation/visualisation A’)
designed system
evaluation/visualisation C’’
(designed system
evaluation/visualisation A’’)
system engineering orientation
B’’
enginered system
evaluation/visualisation C’’
existing system evaluat.
(understanding and priorities) A
concept orientation B
system concept
evaluation/visualisation C

5. Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy
MSDS (main) SUSTAINABILITY ORIENTING
DESIGN TOOLS:
. Sustainability Design-Orienting toolkit (SDO)
. Sustainability Interaction Story-Spot

6. Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy
DESCPRIPTION OF SDS TOOLS
. aims and description
. how to use
. integration in the MSDS design process
. software and/or other supports

7. Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy
SUSTAINABILITY DESIGN-ORIENTING (SDO) TOOLKIT
WHAT IT CONSISTS OF:
a modular software toolkit supporting the following
processes:
- A: existing system qualitative sustainability analysis +
prioritisation of sustainability criteria/guidelines
- B: best practices analysis/identify sustainable existing
options
- C: generate sustainability-focused idea
- D: check/visualise sustainability improvement/worsening
of developed concept/s
AIM
orientate system design process
towards sustainable solutions
(environmental, socio-ethical,
economic)

8. Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy
SDO STRUCTURE:
SUSTAINABILITY DIMENSIONS<CRITERIA<
future generation
environmental
preservation
social equity
and cohesion
economic
prosperity
environmental
socio-ethical
economic
criterion 1
(e.g. transportation
reduction)
criterion 2
(e.g. system life optim.)
… criteria 3-6
guideline
(e.g. on-site assembly service)
…
… criteria 1-6
… criteria 1-6
sustainability
principles
dimensions
distinguished areas
criteria
designer-BRIDGE-
analyst
guidelines + checklists
addressing potential
improvement
checklist
…
CHECKLISTS
GUIDELINES
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…

9. Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy
ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA (GUIDELINES)
to evaluate/suggest system eco-efficency
(stakeholder innovative interactions)
. system life optimisation
. transportation/distribution reduction
. resources reduction
. waste minimisation/valorisation
. conservation/biocompatibility
. toxic reduction

10. Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy
SOCIO-ETHIC CRITERIA (GUIDELINES)
to evaluate/suggest system social equity and cohesion
(stakeholder innovative interactions)
. improve employment/working conditions
. increase equity/justice in relation to stakeholders
. enable responsible/sustainable consumption
. favour/integrate the weak and marginalized
. improve social cohesion
. empower/enhance local resources

11. Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy
HOW TO USE THE SUSTAINABILITY
DESIGN-ORIENTING (SDO)?

12. Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy
0. LOGIN [if requested]
to start type:
username and password
and click on OK

13. Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy
0. LOAD/NEW PROJECT
[www.sdo-lens.polimi.it]
select a
language
type projct name to be loaded (if
existing) or created (if new)
click on OK

14. Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy
0. STARTING DATA (MENÙ)
fields to be
filled
select the
sustainability
dimension to
work on and
click (e.g.
environmen.)

15. Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy
cliclk on
set
priorities
A. ENVIRONMENTAL/SUSTAINABILITY QUALITATIVE
EVALUATION AND PRIORITIES DEFINITION

16. Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy
visualise one by one the
evaluation checklists
(for each criterion)
select a
criterion
write
answers,
one for
each
checklist,
evaluating
existing
system
(for each
criterion)
define priorities:
No, Low,
Medium, High
A. EXISTING SYSTEM ENVIRONMENTAL/SUSTAINABILITY
QUALITATIVE EVALUATION AND PRIORITIES DEF.

17. Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy
visualise one by one the
evaluation checklists
(for each criterion)
select a
criterion
highlights
sustainability
characteristics
of a best
practice
(supported by
checklists for
each
criterion)
highlights
improvements: No,
Low, Medium, High
B. BEST PRACTICES ENVIRONMENTAL/SUSTAINABILITY
QUALITATIVE EVALUATION AND SUSTS. OPTIONS ID.
select case study

18. Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy
C. GENERATE “SUSTAINABLE IDEAS” BY BRAINSTORMING
cliclk on
orientate
concept

19. Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy
C. GENERATE “SUSTAINABLE IDEAS” BY BRAINSTORM.
click on the
button and
type emerged
ideas
select one by one the idea tables
(one for each criterion; start
form those with high prioriitiies)
read the guidelinees at
the system level
(a set for each criterion)

20. Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy
C. GENERATE “SUSTAINABLE IDEAS” BY BRAINSTORM.
click on the
button and
type emerged
ideas
select one by one the idea tables
(one for each criterion; start
form those with high prioriitiies)
read the guidelinees at the
system level
(a set for each criterion)

21. Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy
cliclk on
check
concept
D. SUSTAINABILITY CHECK OF IN PROGRESS SYSTEM
CONCEPT

22. Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy
D. CHECK IN PROGRESS SYSTEM CONCEPT
select a
criterion
define
improvement
write
answers, one
for each
checklist,
comparing
concept with
existing
system
(for each
criterion)
radar env.
visualise one by one the
evaluation checklists
(for each criterion)

23. Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy
D. VISUALISE IN PROGRESS SYSTEM CONCEPT
concept improvement
(e.g. +)
priority of existing system
(e.g. Low)
for each
criterion
(sust.
dimension)
IMPROVEMENT…
type text
synthethising
improvement
select concept
check

24. Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy
for each
criterion
(sust.
dimension)
IMPROVEMENT…
type text
synthethising
improvement
per other
sustanibility
dimension,
e.g. socio-
ethical
concept improvement
(e.g. +)
D. VISUALISE IN PROGRESS SYSTEM CONCEPT
select concept
check

25. Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy
STRATEGIC ANALYSIS
EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES
SYSTEM CONCEPT DESIGN
SYSTEM DESIGN (AND ENGIN.)
COMMUNICATION
ANALYSIS OF THE PROJECT PROMOTERS
ANALYSIS OF THE REFERENCE CONTEXT
ANALYSIS OF BEST PRACTICES
ANALYSIS OF THE REFERENCE STRUCTURE
SUSTAINABILITY EVALUATION & PRIORITIES DEFIN.
IDEAS GENERATION ORIENTED TO SUSTAINABILITY
DEVELEPMENT OF THE SUSTAINABILITY DESIGN
ORIENTING SCENARIO - VISIONS/CLUSTERS/IDEAS
VISIONS, CLUSTERS AND IDEAS SELECTION
SYSTEM CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT (EXECUTIVE LEVEL)
ENV, SOCIO-ET. & ECON. CHECK/VISUALISATIONk
MULTIMEDIA REPORTING: OVERALL QUALITIES
MULTIMEDIA REPORTING: STAINABILITY QUALITIES
ENV, SOCIO-ET. & ECON. CHECK/VISUALISATION
SDO: integration in the design process
per each sustainability dimension
increasing the detail level
A: prioritises sustain.
criteria/guidelines
[tool: checklist/existing
system]
B: analysis of sustainab.
best practices
[tool: checklist/case
study; radars]
D:sustainab. improv.
check/visualisat.
[tool: checklist/concept;
radars]
C: sustainability-focused
idea generation
[tool: idea tables +
guidelines]

26. Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy
SUSTAINABILITY DESIGN-ORIENTING (SDO) TOOLKIT
. free use on-line at www.sdo-lens.polimi.it
. free download for local installationfrom from “tool”
section of www.lens.polimi.it
. open source and copy left (admin section to change
and/or texts, e.g. criteria, guidelines, checklists, etc.)
. languages on-line: english, italian, portughese,
chinese, spanish
SOFTWARE AND OTHER SUPPORTS:

27. Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy
AIM:
to visualise how the
concept help achieve the
sustainability criteria
WHAT IT CONSISTS OF:
one-shot graphical
representation
containing: some images
with short texts (key
sustainability
interactions),
accompanied with notes
highlighting main
achieved sustainability
criteria
SUSTAINABILITY INTERACTION STORY-SPOT
(static)

28. Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy
BACKGROUND
COLOR
SHORT TEXT
STAKEHOLDER
IDENTIFICATION
IMAGE
SUSTAINABILITY INTERACTION STORY-SPOT

29. Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy
GREEN COLOR:
USER/CLIENT
RED COLOR:
PROVIDER
SUSTAINABILITY INTERACTION STORY-SPOT

30. Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy
SUSTAINABILITY INTERACTION STORY-SPOT

31. Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy
integration in the design process
per each sustainability dimension
increasing the detail level
visualise (only) key
interactions
underlining the
achieved
sustainability criteria
SUSTAINABILITY
INTERACTION STORY-SPOT
STRATEGIC ANALYSIS
EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES
SYSTEM CONCEPT DESIGN
SYSTEM DESIGN (AND ENGIN.)
COMMUNICATION
ANALYSIS OF THE PROJECT PROMOTERS
ANALYSIS OF THE REFERENCE CONTEXT
ANALYSIS OF BEST PRACTICES
ANALYSIS OF THE REFERENCE STRUCTURE
DEFINITION OF SUSTAINABILITY DESIGN PRIORITIES
IDEAS GENERATION ORIENTED TO SUSTAINABILITY
DEVELEPMENT OF THE SUSTAINABILITY DESIGN
ORIENTING SCENARIO - VISIONS/CLUSTERS/IDEAS
VISIONS, CLUSTERS AND IDEAS SELECTION
SYSTEM CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT (EXECUTIVE LEVEL)
ENV, SOCIO-ET. & ECON. CHECK/VISUALISATIONk
MULTIMEDIA REPORTING: OVERALL QUALITIES
MULTIMEDIA REPORTING: STAINABILITY QUALITIES
ENV, SOCIO-ET. & ECON. CHECK/VISUALISATION

32. Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy
SUSTAINABILITY INTERACTION STORY-SPOT
open library of images / places
SOFTWARE AND OTHER SUPPORTS:
www.lens.polimi.it / tool >

33. Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy
SUSTAINABILITY INTERACTION STORY-SPOT
SOFTWARE AND OTHER SUPPORTS:
www.lens.polimi.it / tool >
open library of images / people

34. Carlo Vezzoli
Politecnico di Milano / DESIGN dept. / DIS / School of Design / Italy
open library of images: combine images for visualszation
CONTEXT
IMAGES
PEOPLE
IMAGES
SOFTWARE AND OTHER SUPPORTS:
www.lens.polimi.it / tool >
SUSTAINABILITY INTERACTION STORY-SPOT