Design Methodologies
Design Methodologies for Social and Community Impact on E-Waste Reduction
Wesley Woelfel
Assistant Professor
California State University – Long Beach
Abstract
Today’s creative minds are making strides in battling our growing electronic waste (e-waste) problem via the design process. Interchangeable parts, reparability, lifecycle analysis and cradle-to-cradle analysis are all methods used to make an impact on helping to reduce e-waste through design. However, e-waste is strongly the result of a lack of consumer awareness of what it is and its implications. Through what community and social awareness methodologies can e-waste be reduced or prevented through integrating these parameters into the industrial design process? Imagine products designed to contribute awareness to the consumer by enhancing a community’s infrastructure after it would be normally thought of as e-waste. Or an app designed to show consumers the e-waste ingredients of their purchases with community ratings. This paper dives deep into examining several creative methodologies for integrating social and community attributes with the design process in an effort to reduce e-waste and promote e-cycling.
 Jim Wicks |
 Marty Gage |
||
 Karim Rashid |
 Prasad Boradkar |
     |