The Designguide describes the need of producing environmentally friendly  and sustainable products. It should help to educate new generation of designers which would think more carefully about the product sustainability. Over the 20th century designers mostly designed products that couldn’t be reused or recycled. And what more, the marketing of these products enhanced the constant consumption. The consumers got used to products with short life spans.

To fulfil the principle of sustainability producers should reconsider the production and try to offer the same usage products while consuming less resources.

The Designguide describes Factor 10. Western lifestyles consume 80% of global resources, but generate wealth for less than 20% of the world population. Factor 10 is the idea to generate wealth using around 10% of resources we consume or ten times less to leave sufficient resources for future generations.

It counts on designers as possible „change agents“ if they consider sustainability aspects in the design process.

Also mentions „a truly sustainable product“ as one which would be built from sustainable resources, and would decrease consumer’s consumption without affecting quality of life at the same time.

Designers can consider the 3R’s  - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle while thinking about a product. From reducing the material needed in production to the possibilities of recycling.

The guide suggests some tools to help creating sustainable products and services as:

- Taking Stock,
- National Sustainability Indicators,
- Strategy Wheel/Strategy Bar,
- Hot Spot Analysis,
- Finding Solutions,
- Evaluation Sheets.

Lucie Balharova/student