Product design can have a tremendous impact on the world in terms of usability, waste, and resources. In Design Is the Problem, Nathan Shedroff examines how the endemic culture of design often creates unsustainable solutions, and shows how to ensure that design processes lead to more sustainable products and services.

This second edition updates frameworks and tools for designing more sustainably.

CHAPTER 1: What Is Sustainability?

The Business Case for Sustainability

What Is a Systems Perspective?

Diversity and Resiliency

Centralization and Decentralization

Cooperation and Competition

Ecological Vitality

Social Vitality

Financial Vitality

An Ecosystem of Stakeholders

A Careful Balance

CHAPTER 2: How Is Sustainability Measured?

You Get What You Measure

Social Measures

Environmental Measures

Financial Measures

Putting it All Together

CHAPTER 3: How is Sustainability Framed?

Natural Capitalism

Cradle to Cradle

The Natural Step™

Total Beauty

The Living Principles™

The Circular Economy

Ecological Benefits Framework (EBF)

Other Frameworks

Putting Them All Together

CHAPTER 4: What Are the Tools for Sustainability?

Life Cycle Analysis

Biomimicry

Theory of Change

Living Principles ActionKit

Sustainability Scorecard

Stakeholder Analysis

Sustainability Helix

CHAPTER 5: Design for Use

CHAPTER 6: Dematerialization

CHAPTER 7: Substitution

CHAPTER 8: Localization

CHAPTER 9: Transmaterialization

CHAPTER 10: Informationalization

CHAPTER 11: Design for Durability

CHAPTER 12: Design for Reuse

CHAPTER 13: Design for Disassembly

CHAPTER 14: Design for Systems

CHAPTER 15: Design for Restoration

CHAPTER 16: Innovating Solutions

The Strategic Innovation Process

The Strategy Phase

Managing Change

CHAPTER 17: Measuring Results

CHAPTER 18: Declaring Results

CHAPTER 19: Conclusion

APPENDIXES