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Full Circle Futures: Educating the Next Generation on Circular Design Practice

Schaffer, Shelby
http://orcid.org/0009-0008-8307-7930
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1692290326870407

Abstract Details

2023, MDES, University of Cincinnati, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning: Design.
Environmental concerns continue to increase daily, leaving many wondering what they might do to minimize their impact on the planet. As a result, it is critical to educate the general public, particularly secondary school students, about embracing more sustainable practices. As these students will become our society's future designers and consumers, it is crucial to equip them with the necessary tools and knowledge to foster a more responsible future for our environment and climate. This starts with smart, responsible design. As the Ellen MacArthur Foundation says, “Waste and pollution does not exist by accident, it is the result of design decisions” (2021). To adequately equip our future decision-makers, it is crucial to educate them on the importance of Circular Design (CD), a way of designing products that fit into the Circular Economy (CE). The CE is an environmentally sustainable “system of closed loops, where nothing becomes waste, and everything has value” (Foundation, 2021). However, CD is rarely integrated into the curricula of public schools, with sustainable education predominantly offered within Montessori environments or at the university level. This usually means that public school students are left out of this important equation. There is little evidence to support that CD is currently widely taught in many schooling environments. This research study aims to understand how we might best educate Gen Z public school students on the foundations of CD. Additionally, it seeks to determine whether an elevated level of content regarding CD can influence these students to become more conscientious about their role in the world and how they can apply these practices to their daily lives. Through three phases of applied research methods, this study explores how we might dress this gap. The first phase relies on a literature review to create CD learning tools for students and teachers, which were then refined with Montessori educators in phase two through phenomenological research. Finally, in phase three, these tools were tested with public school students through action research in a hands-on learning workshop. Phase three was crucial, as it reflects the public student voice and led to the identification of how these tools and the general foundations of CD were perceived. Students were required to complete a post-workshop survey, which was analyzed and evaluated to understand how much CD content these students retained. The ultimate goal of this research was to create a short-form CD curriculum for Gen Z secondary school students, heightening their awareness of the importance of living and consuming more responsibly as they transition into independent decision-making roles and, in some cases, future designers. It is hoped that this research contributes to the ongoing discourse on CD education and its impact on sustainable design’s future. The young people of today hold a significant influence on tomorrow. As an academic community, we must engage in conversations about this topic and recognize Gen Z's pivotal role in shaping a sustainable, circular future. The future is circular. The future is now.
Brooke Brandewie, M.S. (Committee Member)
Ashley Kubley, M.F.A. (Committee Chair)
72 p.
Environmental Education
Circular Design; Circular Design Education; Circular Economy; Circular Design Principles; Gen Z; Environmental Sustainability

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Schaffer, S. (2023). Full Circle Futures: Educating the Next Generation on Circular Design Practice [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1692290326870407

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Schaffer, Shelby. Full Circle Futures: Educating the Next Generation on Circular Design Practice. 2023. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1692290326870407.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Schaffer, Shelby. "Full Circle Futures: Educating the Next Generation on Circular Design Practice." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2023. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1692290326870407

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1692290326870407
58
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This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.