E-learning per LTO Mantova

Design and manufacturing 4.0 can now play a fundamental role in moving towards a sustainable future: we can no longer design without thinking about the impact that our product or service will have on the environment and, consequently, on our society.

Starting from these assumptions, the online training course, consisting of 6 integrated modules, designed for the educational platform of LTO Mantova - Territorial Employability Laboratory - and promoted by PromoImpresa - Borsa Merci, to provide young participants with a range of theoretical and practical knowledge on the circular economy and the concept of 4R, ecodesign and co-design, with a maker approach.

An intensive course to understand how design can contribute to sustainability and tell the complexity behind the creation of products and services, and to better identify alternative design strategies that can reduce the negative impact on people and the planet. The courses also help to understand how not only designers but also individuals can contribute through a sustainable and systemic approach. Not only technological innovation, but also the importance of the projects from below and the daily actions of each, in order to improve the present and facilitate change.

In addition to a theoretical introduction on 4R (waste hierarchy, evolution of the 4R concept over time, European directives) and on the basis of Circular Economy (transition from linear to circular economy), we proceed with the illustration of the evolution and characteristics of eco-sustainable design, from the first explorations regarding green design, to contemporary systemic approaches (biomimesis, cradle-to-cradle design, emotionally durable design, behavioural design), and then with the illustration of concrete examples, providing tools and practical advice to design, prototyping, testing and first-hand action for the development of sustainable actions and initiatives. The last module explains the co-design method, tools and materials created to facilitate co-design sessions.

The project was financed by the Fondo di Perequazione “Giovani e mondo del lavoro” and the Chamber System of increase of 20% “Formazione e lavoro”.