Year 9 - Design and technology
Design
The circular economy
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit pupils will develop knowledge of technology in society and its effects on design. Through the life cycle assessment of popular products, they will learn how to be responsible designers.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain how design affects the environmental impact of a product.
Key Notes
- Design plays a crucial role in shaping the environmental impact of a product across it's entire lifecycle.
- Designing products that last longer and can be shared help to reduce environmental impact.
Vocabulary To Learn
- circular economy: an economic system where products and materials are kept in circulation and do not become waste
- design decisions: a deliberate choice to meet a requirement or solve a problem
- modular design: a design approach where a product is made up of separate, interchangeable parts or modules
- design opportunity: a gap, or a need where a new or improved product would be beneficial
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Sustainability decisions happen after the product has been designed.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
Design plays a crucial role in shaping the environmental impact of a product across it's entire lifecycle. Designing products that last longer and can be shared help to reduce environmental impact.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'circular economy'
an economic system where products and materials are kept in circulation and do not become waste.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Sustainability decisions happen after the product has been designed. Correction: At the design stage, designers have a huge responsibility to influence many other stages of a product's life cycle through their design decisions.
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 9 Design and technology guide library.