‘Circular Design– Reimagining Future ’ was the topic of the latest series of CONV. (Conversations), which is a part of the 3C’s Outreach Program by JD Institute to educate it’s students about creative industries and understand concepts being introduced out into the practical world.

What is ‘Circular Design’?

Circular Design is the concept that aims at eliminating waste reutilizing resources. This economic concept is one that all design and creative industries are implementing as it not only helps the economy but also helps sustain the environment.

Our panellists for this series were:

1. Mr. Muruganand, Design Head Shahi Exports;
2.  Zuzana Gombosova, Co-founder & Director of Malai Biomaterials Design Pvt Ltd;
3. Siddharth Lulla, Lead Corporate Strategy & Enterprise Engagement for CAIF; and
4. Sridevi Changali, Conservation Architect and Co-founder of Masons Ink.

The introduction of our panellists was given by Ms. Shilpa Malaya, followed by questions directed towards the panellists:

1. How has ‘Circular Design’ impacted the design and creative industries in the current scenario?

“During these challenging times, circular design had created a radical shift in design thinking which sparked an interest in many to educate themselves more about the concept. People have had the chance to realise the concept through their day to day lives, as they take notice of the small wastes that are produced”, answered by Ms. Zuzana.

2. What is the existing flaw in the current design system?

“It is easy to curate a design and send it in for manufacturing, but what is important is to understand what goes into bringing the garment to life. For example, for a single T-shirt, 3,500 litres of water is being used which is an individual’s water consumption for two and a half years. My experience working with H&m, Tommy Hilfinger and Calvin Klein with regard to circular design and sustainability for the past four to five years, has brought to my realization that the process of change is slow and is being taken for granted. So, as a designer I would like to request the aspiring designers to not just create a design but to look into the process of manufacturing and the future of the environment”, answered by Mr. Muruganand.

3. What is the impact of ‘Circular Design’ in architecture?

“As architects, it is definitely important for us to raise awareness on Circular Design to our clients. Apart from that, it is not only about focusing on clients, but also on ourselves, it is important to make life decisions such as the products we use on a daily basis. .However, when it comes to construction, at Masons Ink, we try to use a lot of earthen techniques. Another major hurdle is finding the right labour to work with the concept, and the solution is to educate them”, says Ms. Sridevi.

4. How can you educate a customer on the concept of ‘Circular Design’?

“Educating customers is the key to raising awareness on Sustainability and Circular Design Concepts. There are many  ways of educating customers, such as advertising, promotional campaigns, social media platforms and even through packaging. But one specific method that has created a shift and caught attentions is the many global brands like H&M and Patagonia are experimenting with ‘BlockChain Enabled Tools for Traceability’, which implies that the future of Sustainability is being adopted globally”, Answers Mr. Siddharth.

Four important questions asked and answered well by our panellists, have helped students understand the progression of the design and creative industries in terms of Circular Design Thinking.

Circular Design is an important aspect that will support a sustainable environment as well as help us be resources not only in industrial lives but also in terms of day to day lives. There are small changes that we can make at our homes that will bring us closer to the aim of Sustainability. The 3C’s Outreach program grows faster and helps one understand the process and initiative by design and creative industries as we move forward.