Abstract
This thesis explores the factors influencing the design of high-quality Australian consumer products - commonly referred to as “Good Design” - and evaluates these within the framework of the Circular Economy (CE). The research examines how product design decisions affect quality and their broader implications for business, society, and the environment. The outcomes of the study include the development of updated guidelines and protocols to enhance product design standards in Australia. These incorporate sustainability principles, revise due diligence criteria, and introduce a new classification and evaluation system for consumer products.Consumer product design was found to be pervasive and to significantly impact ecosystems and human life. However, design was also shown to generate adverse social and environmental consequences. In a rapidly expanding consumer market, design outcomes were identified as good, bad, or indifferent, depending on design decisions, processes, and the resulting products. Current standards and protocols, particularly those applied by Industrial Designers in strategic roles, were shown to require review to ensure alignment with pre-planned social, economic, and environmental objectives.
The research activity commenced with a review of prior survey-based studies, focusing on three key Domains: (1) Clients, Industrial Designers, and Manufacturers; (2) Design Awards Programs; and (3) Quality Testing and Consumer Protection Organisations. This analysis investigated how design-related impacts occurred not only during product development but also across Contiguous Industries, from raw material sourcing through to end-of-life disposal. Design impacts were identified as positive, negative, or neutral, and the study clarified these relationships within the Australian context.
The overarching aim of the research was to establish guidelines that advance product quality and sustainability in accordance with CE principles. These guidelines were developed to inform designers, manufacturers, and policymakers at federal and state levels, fostering improved design models that minimise negative social, economic, and environmental impacts. While consumer impacts were not the primary focus of the research, they were considered where relevant.
The literature indicated that defining “Good Design” is complex and requires input from multiple stakeholders. Existing evaluation systems, such as design awards and quality testing programs, were shown to often lack sustainability criteria. This thesis addresses these gaps by proposing solutions at the ‘front end’ of product innovation, where design briefs between clients, manufacturers, and designers exert significant influence on product outcomes.
| Date of Award | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Supervisor | Eddi PIANCA (Supervisor), Mehves CETINKAYA SENDAS (Supervisor) & Livio BONOLLO (Supervisor) |
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