THE BENCH GAME: AN ECO-DESIGN WORKSHOP

Chairs

Elies Dekoninck, University of Bath, Bath

Tim C. McAloone, TU Denmark, Denmark

Daniela Pigosso, TU Denmark, Denmark

Content organizers: Maud Dufrene and Mendy Mombeshora.

About the workshop

Brought to you by the Eco-Design SIG, The Bench Game is a unique interactive game-based workshop that combines product design, environmental and supply chain issues with the aim of introducing participants to both the practical aspects of eco-design and the wider business considerations necessary in the implementation of environmental product development. The game is based on the G.EN.ESI methodology (www.genesi-fp7.eu), which supports companies in the integration of environmental considerations into their product development process.

During the workshop, the participants will be introduced to the G.EN.ESI methodology before the commencement of the game. Exercising the knowledge gained through the prior presentation and reflections on their own experiences of industry based eco-design implementation, the participants will partake in The Bench Game. To kick-start the game, the participants will be divided into groups, with each group representing a design team in a manufacturing company. After being split into groups, the facilitator will commission a re-design of a bench, based on a provided base-model, which has particular environmental performance improvements. The groups must work collaboratively, with each team member assuming a pre-defined role, to successfully redesign the bench to ensure an improved environmental profile based on the LCA results of the base-model. Through the addition of a supply chain arm to the workshop, the attendees will be able to learn a bit more about the importance of the supply chain during the environmental product development process and experience first hand what some of the challenges associated with sharing information with your supply chain when practicing eco-design can be.

During the game, the participants will have control of the entire re-design process in a real time interactive environment; this exercise will simulate the real life complexities of eco-design within a product design team in a modern business environment. The workshop’s team based structure will facilitate the attainment of a high level of knowledge sharing and networking which the Eco-Design SIG’s workshops always strive to achieve.

Following the game, a discussion session will be held to reflect upon the methodology and the interactive exercise. The workshop will conclude with the Eco-Design SIG reporting on its business since ICED13 and planning activities for the coming year.