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2.1.3 Triple Bottom Line (TBL)

The triple bottom line (TBL) measures levels of success of a product in relation to social (people), economic (profit) and environmental (planet), which are key responsibilities of a designer.

SL

Design in Context

C2.1 Design for sustainability

By the end of this topic, you should be able to...

explain the TBL and the relationship between the three Ps (people, profit, planet), which includes conflict and compromise.

Guiding Question

How can design for sustainability ensure we meet our current needs without compromising our future existence?

Linking Questions

  • What are the advantages of using virtual prototyping techniques over physical prototyping techniques when developing sustainable products? (A2.2)

  • Does material classification suggest the sustainability of a material? (A3.1)

  • To what extent does a user-centred design (UCD) strategy promote the development of a sustainable product? (B1.1)

  • How important is material selection when creating products that are designed to be sustainable? (B3.1)

  • What complications do electronic systems introduce to the sustainability of a product? (B3.4)

  • Why are certain production systems considered less sustainable than others? (B4.1)

  • To what extent is design for sustainability the responsibility of the designer? (C1.1)

  • How does a product developed using a design for sustainability strategy tend to perform under a life-cycle analysis? (C3.2)

Everything is designed.

Few things are designed well.

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