Abstract
This article presents the sociotechnical design method for conceiving innovative sustainable products and/or systems. It is a participatory approach to design that focuses on meeting the basic needs of people at the base of the social pyramid using waste as raw material for developing products/systems with high added value. The method has three stages: (1) a matrix that cross-matches basic needs and the available forms of waste and thereby induces, by brainstorming, the development of design opportunities; (2) four matrices for identifying the ergonomic demands of the three human users (the primary, the intermediate and end users) and the environment and (3) a matrix that evaluates the design alternatives in terms of sustainability, quality and cost. The method is aligned with the worldwide adopted sustainability definition, with the cradle-to-cradle approach to design and consistent with the Zero Emissions Research and Initiatives chain production system approach.
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