MYP Design Year 1 · Unit 4 · Lesson 28
Sustainable Design
L28 · 01

Sustainable Design

Every product uses resources. Designers can make choices about how much is used, how long it lasts, and what happens next.

Today’s sustainability lens
R
RESOURCESMaterials, energy, time, tools, and processes are all used to create products.
U
USEA product should provide a useful function during its life.
NEXT LIFERepair, reuse, repurpose, recycle, or disposal can change what happens after use.
Use ← → / Space to navigate.Unit 4 · Lesson 28
Learning Focus
Resources + sustainability
L28 · 02

By the end of today, students can…

01

Explain

that products depend on resources and design decisions.

02

Identify

ways a product can use resources more responsibly.

03

Compare

different end-of-use choices such as reuse, repair, and recycling.

Related concepts: Resources · SustainabilityConcept foundation
Mini-Lesson
Sustainability is about choices
L28 · 03
Use less

Avoid unnecessary material or energy.

Use longer

Durability and repair can extend useful life.

Use again

Reuse or repurpose can keep materials useful.

Recover value

Recycling can return some materials to production when systems exist.

Avoid teaching one strategy as automatically best.Context matters
Material Journey
A product has a before, during, and after
L28 · 04
Material sourceWhere resources come from
MakeProcessing and manufacturing
MovePackaging and transport
UseWhat the product does and how long it lasts
NextReuse, repair, recycling, or disposal
Today is a simple overview.Detailed map comes in L29
Workshop
Material Journey Sort
L28 · 05
Workshop

Build a product journey from mixed cards.

STEP 01

Sort

Place event cards into source, make, move, use, or next-life stages.

STEP 02

Discuss

Which stages use resources or create waste?

STEP 03

Improve

Choose one stage where a design decision could reduce waste or extend use.

Card set included in student materials.Main workshop
Design Trade-Off
Sustainable does not mean perfect
L28 · 06

Choice A

Uses less material but may break quickly.

Choice B

Uses more material but may last much longer.

DISCUSS

Which is more responsible? What extra information would you need before deciding?

Introduce trade-off thinking.No single-answer shortcut
Exit Reflection
Resources are part of every design
L28 · 07

Finish one sentence.

“One way a designer can influence a product’s resource use is _______.”

Next lesson

Students map a simple product life cycle and identify where design choices can change environmental impact.