Sustainable Design

Cultivate sustainable design skills to envision and design viable solutions and transition pathways

Wheelchairs and Cook Stoves Assessment

List the design features of each of the wheelchairs and cook stoves shown below that were driven by each of the ‘bilities that we discussed in class. Refer to the reading assignments for additional information on the materials, techniques and processes used in the manufacture of both wheelchairs and cook stoves. On a separate page, discuss what you think were the major drivers of each design, and what trade-offs were made. 

Book Group

The four books that comprise Reading Assignment #7 are divided among four groups of students

  • Small is Beautiful
  • Gaviotas
  • Cradle to Cradle
  • Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid

Design@MIT

Consider the objects and products you encounter every day while at MIT—all of these were designed. When looking at a design, it’s important to be critical, but in a constructive manner. It’s also important to recognize that there are very few instances where a design is totally great or totally terrible; there are typically good parts of a poor design, and vice versa.

Take a picture of two very different objects or products, one that you believe is a relatively bad design, and one that is a relatively good design. Discuss the pros and cons of each design, and why you have come to your overall “good” or “bad” conclusion. Also discuss what trade-offs and constraints the designers likely faced in developing these products, and how these challenges were managed.

Laboratory

Part of the exploration of the materials and engineering aspects of each case study will be accomplished through hands-on laboratory experience with the materials in question: glass, copper and its alloys, and rubber.

Written Assignments

Each student will be responsible for two short papers on the material from the two units not included in his/her presentation. For example, if a student makes a presentation on metallurgy, the two papers will be on glass and rubber; if the presentation is on rubber processing, the papers will be on metallurgy and glass.

Group Presentations

Students will be assigned to choose one material represented by each of the three case study groups: glass, metal, or rubber. Each group will research one aspect of the chosen material and make a group presentation at the end of the corresponding unit.

Pages

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