REFLOW Handbook
  • REFLOW Handbook
  • About REFLOW
    • REFLOW’s ambition
  • About this Handbook
  • Steps towards a circular city
  • Policy Frameworks
    • Cities and Sustainability within EU policy-making
    • Cities and Circular Economy within EU policy-making
    • Cities and Circular Economy within the EU Urban Agenda
  • City models and urban governance
    • Smart Cities
      • Barcelona
      • Warsaw
    • Sharing Cities
      • Milan
    • Green Cities
      • Oslo
      • Copenhagen
    • City as Commons
      • Bologna
      • Ghent
    • Fab Cities
      • Paris
    • Circular Cities
      • Brussels
      • Amsterdam
      • Prato
  • Tools and methods for your pilot
    • REFLOW Collaborative Governance Approach
      • Strategic Infrastructuring
      • Operational Infrastructuring
      • Relational Infrastructuring
      • Key takeaways
    • Toolkits & Handbooks
      • Systemic Design Toolkit
      • Circular Design Guide
      • Make Works Handbook
      • Making Sense Toolkit
      • PSS Toolkit
      • Circular Economy Playbook
    • Other Resources
      • Circular Governance Studies and Reports
      • Fab Labs and Makerspaces
  • Bibliography
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  1. Tools and methods for your pilot
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Circular Design Guide

Developed by Ellen MacArthur Foundation and IDEO

PreviousSystemic Design ToolkitNextMake Works Handbook

Last updated 5 years ago

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What is it?

The Circular Design Guide is a collaboration between and , which offers circular innovation methods as well as interviews with designers, creative exercises and worksheets, case studies and links to technical tools.

What is it useful for?

  • Understanding circular flows

  • Engaging organizations

  • Learning about design thinking practices to circularity

  • Circular business models

  • Regenerative thinking

  • Materials mapping

  • Digital systems

Description from Authors:

This guide is a free online resource that aims to raise awareness of the circular economy, nurture a “systems perspective,” and share practical innovation methods.

It includes 24 methods, grouped in into four areas, loosely aligned with the flow of a circular design process: Understand, Define, Make, Release. The methods include introductions (“Understand Circular Flows”) and helpful techniques for those struggling to engage their organization (“Circular Buy-In”). Some adapt traditional design thinking practices to circularity (“User-Centered Research,” “Rapid Prototyping,” “Circular Business Model”), while others—such as “Service Flip” and “Imagine New Partnerships”—have been created specifically. Wild-card methods—including “Learn from Nature” and “Regenerative Thinking”—are designed to inspire readers.

‌The Circular Design Guide is packed with extras: interviews with designers; worksheets for each method; illustrative, inspiring circular innovation case studies; and links for helpful technical tools, such as material selection

Useful links and resources:

Ellen MacArthur Foundation
IDEO
Circular Design Guide Framework
The Circular Design Guide
Resources
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