Abstract:

EcoLab-UPM is an initiative of professors from the Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería y Diseño Industrial, the Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas and the Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería de Montes, Forestal y del Medio Natural of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and aims to analyse problems of the society and the companies producing new concepts of products, services and business models more sustainable and environmentally friendly. Different design methodologies are used for this purpose. The experience with these methodologies is then used in subjects such as “Ecodesign and Product Safety”, “Ecoefficiency and Ecoinnovation” and “Sustainable Design” in the Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería y Diseño Industrial.
Among the methodologies dealt nowadays is possible to find the Design Thinking (DT). It is well-known that this methodology is applicable to different disciplines, however, its application in a combined manner with other methodologies can be still subject of study. In this regard, it is possible to propose an adapted methodology “Ecodesign Thinking” and to analyse the advantages and disadvantages that it presents in comparison with others. Furthermore, the application of this methodology aims to increase, among others, the creativity and motivation of the students of industrial design engineering and product development. In this study is presented therefore a methodological proposal to develop designs more environmentally friendly. Previous experiences and conclusions after applying DT in ecodesign projects and ideas presented to the competition ActúaUPM are shown, and how all of it led up to this proposal. Its implementation is planned in the subject “Ecodesign and Product Safety” in the degree of Industrial Design Engineering of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, and after the statistical treatment of the gathered data, the results and conclusions will be available to all students interested in a learning space designed within EcoLab-UPM.

Keywords:

Ecodesign, Design Thinking, Ecoefficiency, Ecoinnovation.