Design Patterns for Visualization-Based Tools in Sustainable Product Design

Abstract

Most design activities involve exploring and comparing existing designs. Thus, adopting an eco-conscious approach in the design exploration process can aid environmentally sustainable product design (SPD). One approach for supporting exploration in SPD is through tools based on information visualization (InfoVis). The use of InfoVis for SPD allows data-driven exploration of solutions that is rapid, direct, and supports investigation of questions that the designer may not have identified. Previous work has demonstrated the utility of InfoVis tools for different facets of the lifecycle, e.g. redesign, supply chain exploration, and life cycle assessment. These tools focus on projecting sustainability-related implications back to design. However, to fully realize their potential, future tools must synthesize data in a manner that helps designers view the effects of a design change on all downstream stages. Such tools will have to work across multiple data types, visual representations, and stakeholders. In this paper, we take the first steps towards addressing this challenge by formulating design patterns for visualization and interaction of product lifecycle data. These design patterns were synthesized by reviewing previous works that have successfully created visualization-based tools for SPD. The suggested * Address all correspondence devr@mit.edu design patterns can, (1) serve as a guide for creating integrated visualization-based tools for SPD, and (2) help create reusable visual components that aid in quick interface wireframing.

Switching From Petroleum- to Bio-Based Plastics: Visualization Tools to Screen Sustainable Material Alternatives During the Design Process

“…How to facilitate and ensure the selection of greener materials by industrial designers and engineers during the (re)design and development process of products? In this paper, we argue that to further integrate environmental sustainability into conceptual or preliminary design phases, visualization tools (either purely graphical and static, or computer-based and dynamic) can be an effective means to influence sustainable design [6,7,8], e.g., by the fostering the selection and use of novel bio-based materials. The main aim is thus to create and consolidate a knowledge base on the environmental impact and key properties of bio-based plastics alternatives to conventional petroleum-based ones, as well as to figure out how to disseminate effectively such new information to designers and material engineers.…”

“…Yet, conducting an LCA can be timeconsuming, and require not only a significant amount of data but also a certain expertise on environmental impact assessment and related software, which is a hindrance to its wider adoption by industrialists. Furthermore, current LCA software and tools for analyzing and visualizing environmental results are not sufficiently integrated with enterprise knowledge management systems [8]. On this basis, providing designers and material engineers with visual and straightforward tools to screen new, potentially suitable and sustainable materials during the design process appears as a relevant solution to support the selection of greener materials.…”

Proceedings of the 2017 model-based enterprise (MBE) summit

“…From these different visualization prototypes, we have begun to distill best practices for mapping visual variables to manufacturing data to enhance practical and direct decision-making. An initial set of these "design patterns" focuses on the development of visual analytics tools to aid in sustainable product design [5].…”