Prometheus Missing: Critical Materials and Product Design

Abstract

Critical Materials are strategically important to societies, businesses and economies. They are essential to maintain and improve our quality of life. The world however faces problems of critical material supply, but these concerns are not translated into product design activity, even though current policy and history suggests that product design can play a role in fi nding solutions to the critical materials problems. This thesis reviews literature from the past and draws observations from historical cases, which show product design changes can help address scarcity. A 21st century critical materials literature review leads to a new defi nition of critical materials for product designers. In-depth interviews, conducted in 29 companies, show that most do not see links with product design and critical materials. This thesis concludes by producing a framework to help develop education on product design and critical materials. This framework also highlights policy actions within a circular economy transition.