Design for Sustainability (DfS) latest methods embrace the socio-technical systems, aiming to promote radical changes in societal needs. However, few studies investigate consumer behaviours, motivations and subjective practices as well explore teaching strategies for such approach. Therefore, this conceptual paper addresses the following research question: howto teach DfS beyond the environmental dimension of sustainability as an opportunity for developing solutions that are culturally desirable and economic viable? Its main goal is to present a teaching experience held along 2 years in 2 universities in Brazil. Drawing upon Vasques (2015), the toolkit and teaching strategies integrate de cultural dimension through the Consumer Culture Theory knowledge (CCT) and reflections on self, materialism and sharing. The economic dimensionis addressed by questioning the scarcity economic model and developing a project from users’ needs and challenges to change consumption patterns identified with CCT and explored with the AT.ONE Service Innovation Method and the Sharing Business Model Compass. Students had raised awareness and fostered critical thinking on the relevance of both cultural and economic aspects related to DfS, suggesting the significanceof the approach through design for sharing.  

Authors: Rosana Aparecida Vasques, Maria Cecilia Loschiavo dos Santos