ABSTRACT
This chapter provides useful guidance for each stage of the product development process, concept generation, idea development and detail design, providing guidance and suggestions on the types of environmental and social issues one should consider at each stage. Concept design projects are ultimately about developing something 'new'. Many student projects fall into this category, but industrial projects can equally be conceptual or 'blue-sky'. Core design projects are redesign projects which focus on revamping, updating, and tweaking an existing product to make it better. In terms of addressing sustainability, the starting point for this type of project is often to reflect on the brief to ensure that it focuses on social and environmental issues specifically. Industrial designer's focuses on developing new product concepts to challenge and complement strategic business and design engineers tend to focus on developing new technological innovations that can be integrated into product development at a later date.
