Year 9 - Design and technology
Redesign and rethink
The circular economy
Study Hub
Study Guides
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 products can be redesigned within the circular economy.
Key Notes
- Products can be redesigned or adapted to make future successful products.
- Refillable products enable a reduction in packaging that would otherwise end up in landfill.
- Existing products can inspire future design.
Vocabulary To Learn
- circular economy: products and materials are kept in circulation and do not become waste
- life cycle assessment (LCA): assesses the environmental impact at every stage of a product's lifecycle
- design decisions: a deliberate choice to meet a requirement or solve a problem
- redesign: making design decisions to improve a product in some way
- modular design: a design approach where a product is made up of separate, interchangeable parts or modules
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Redesigning a product for the circular economy only means making it recyclable.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
Products can be redesigned or adapted to make future successful products. Refillable products enable a reduction in packaging that would otherwise end up in landfill.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'circular economy'
products and materials are kept in circulation and do not become waste.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Redesigning a product for the circular economy only means making it recyclable. Correction: Redesign in the circular economy involves designing products to last longer, be repaired, reused, or upgraded to reduce waste throughout the product's entire life cycle.
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 9 Design and technology guide library.