Design tool: Rethink & Reuse
This is the Rethink & Reuse brainstorming tool for products and packaging
The "Rethink" and "Reuse" design strategies are crucial when designing products and/or packaging for a circular economy. These strategies offer new ways to look at the primary function of your product and/or packaging and identify how these functions can be fulfilled with fewer (or sometimes no) resources. The Rethink & Reuse Brainstorm tool can help you think about ways to redesign your product or packaging in a circular way.
You can do this with it
With this design tool you can:
- Think critically about the primary function your product or packaging should perform;
- come up with creative ways to fulfill these functions in a circular way.
This tool is very applicable for companies and designers who are
- have taken small steps toward circular design and are wondering if things can be done differently;
- have arrived at a dead end, cannot optimize further and want to redefine the value proposition from a function level.
Straight to work
There are several ways to learn more about this tool. Get started right away, or read more background information. Check out the different options below.
Do
Get started right away with the Rethink & Reuse brainstorming tool. You can use it for products and packaging.
Rethink Brainstorming Tool for PRODUCTS
Rethink Brainstorming Tool for PACKAGING
Reading
Want more information about the Rethink & Reuse brainstorming tool? Then read the frequently asked questions below.
1. Who is the tool for?
The tool is intended for companies and designers in the Manufacturing, Consumer Goods, Plastics and Construction sectors.
2. What question are you using the tool for?
The design strategies "Rethink" and "Reuse" are crucial when designing products and/or packaging for a circular economy. These strategies offer new ways to look at the primary function of your product and/or packaging and identify how these functions can be fulfilled with fewer (or sometimes no) resources.
This is what the tool offers: A brainstorming format for applying creative circular design strategies
This provides the tool not: Concrete design guidelines, comparison of environmental impact of different concepts
3. What are specific characteristics of the tool? What does this require of you as a user?
The Rethink and Reuse Brainstorm tool can help you think about ways to redesign your product or packaging in a circular way. Using a set of guiding questions, it helps you think outside the box and discover innovative solutions.
4. How long does the application of the tool take?
This tool is very easy to use and does not require much preparation time. However, we do recommend that you think beforehand about a product/packaging that you would like to redesign in a circular way. Completing the tool itself can be done within minutes.
Want to learn more about the circular economy before using the tool? Then we recommend these links:
5. I can't manage to come up with creative solutions, what else can I do?
Are you in a creative vacuum? Then we recommend applying this tool together in a workshop led by an experienced trainer/designer. Regional CIRCO Hubs offer these trainings. For more information, contact us at info@circonl.nl.