Courses
Admissions & Support
Design for Sustainability and Circular Economies (L9, 10 ECTS)
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Location: Blended
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weeks: 12
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Fees: Funded by the Micro-credential Learner Fee Subsidy 2026. See Fees Section Below.
Course Overview
The Design for Sustainability and Circular Economies Certificate will facilitate and support design professionals in their practice-based enquiry into design for sustainability.
The continued professional development course structure will increase awareness and shine a light on opportunities and challenges facing design practices by critically evaluating the current cultural, social, economic and ecological landscapes and interrogating their existing models and approaches to design for sustainability and circular economies.
Suited to practitioners from all design disciplines, it will invite designers to identify opportunities to adapt with agility, to re-shape and remodel existing approaches within their own design practice and wider design communities and build on valuable and existing skill sets through the adoption of regenerative, circular and sustainable practices in order to address global challenges at their roots, enact meaningful change, make a real impact now and future-proof their design processes.
Guided by expert specialists, this course will equip participants with the tools to actively query existing modes of design for sustainability, deepen their understanding of Life Cycle Thinking, Circular Economy Principles and Regenerative Design Practices, gather industry insights, generate dynamic discussion with both peers and subject matter experts, co-design for best practice and propose new ways of shaping our design futures.
More Information
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Design For Sustainability And Circular Economies (10 ECTS)
The programme aims to:
- Up skill practising design professionals in the field of Design for Sustainability (DfS).
- Develop the broad understanding of the participants towards the complexities and opportunities around DfS, Circular Economy and Regenerative Design Practice and also to provide them with practical DfS tools for implementation in their business and design practice.
By the end of the programme participants can be expected to gain:
- A practical use of DfS principles
- The ability to apply Life Cycle Thinking to their Design practice
- Basic Knowledge, Skills and Competencies to address DfS & CE challenges/opportunities in their work as a designer.
- A stepping stone to research and further develop their DfS & CE practice
Topics include:
- Introduction to Sustainable Development (SD) inc. Case Studies, Best Practices in Design for Sustainability (DfS)
- Approaches, philosophies, and guiding principles in SD, DfS and CE
- Practical DfS strategies for designers
- Circular Economy (CE) Principles and application
- Policy, Legislation, Standardisation and Certification in DfS
- LCA ( Life Cycle Assessment), Overview of LCA tools, simplified applied LCA for designers
- Material Flow and Production
- Social Corporate Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental Responsibility
- Marketing ‘Sustainable Design’ and managing customer / user expectations
- Business Model Design and Procurement for CE
- Packaging and Waste considerations for designers
- Regenerative Design Practice
- Sustainable Product Service Systems (SPSS)
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Honours (Level 8) Degree in a Design discipline or appropriate RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning)
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Recognised Prior Learning (RPL)
If you do not meet the academic entry requirements listed above but would like your application assessed under RPL please select YES on the online application form. Please include any relevant work experience/further information relevant to your application under the ‘Additional Information’ section.English Language: Applicants who do not have English as their first language must ensure they satisfy English Language requirements. For entry to undergraduate courses, a score of 5.5 in an IELTS or equivalent exam is required. For postgraduate courses, a score of 6.0 in an IELTS or equivalent exam is required. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure their English proficiency meets these requirements. Please note that we do not request proof of English language qualification or proficiency.
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Modules are to be delivered over 12 weeks in a blended learning format as follows;
10 weeks of online studio (3 hours per week) on Wednesdays from 2-5pm.
2 full in-person days at LSAD (dates to be confirmed).
The proposed delivery schedule is subject to change.
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Each 5 credits will normally equate to approximately 100 Total Learning Hours. Total Learning Hours includes the time you spend in class (lectures, tutorials, practical elements) and the time you spend completing work outside of college. The balance between these two varies by discipline, and by level of study. You should bear in mind that the workload will increase at particular times e.g. when assignments are due.
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Continuous Assessment + Final Project.
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Certificate in Design for Sustainability and Circular Economies (Level 9, 10 ECTS)
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This course is funded by the Micro-credential Learner Fee Subsidy 2026 programme and fees are subsidised at 80% for all eligible learner categories.
Full Fee is €1,400
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*Limited Places*
Places are allocated on a first come first served basis.
The programme will close once the maximum number of applicants is reached.
Final closing date for any unfilled places will be the 19th July 2026.
Programmes run subject to viable numbers.
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