We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer Leafer Circular Design about their original and creative Consulting Workshop design work. Leafer Circular Design is an award-winning service designer, that makes our world a better place with their original consulting workshop works.
Leafer Circular Design ("LCD") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work Leakage Awareness Consulting Workshop. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
LCD : The main principle behind the design is to facilitate the transition of businesses to circular models by identifying resource leaks and fostering stakeholder consensus. The inspiration came from nearly a decade of collaboration with long-term clients, revealing the need for a comprehensive method to visualize resource flows and engage stakeholders effectively.
LCD : The primary focus was to create a workshop that not only helps designers work on larger projects with clients but also builds internal solidarity and gathers vital resource information. The goal was to achieve a method that supports sustainable business improvements and enhances design impact.
LCD : Future plans include refining the workshop based on user feedback, expanding its reach, and integrating further technological advancements into the C-BAT app for enhanced material analysis capabilities.
LCD : The project started in March 2023, with the alpha version launching in November 2023, indicating that the design process took approximately eight months.
LCD : This design was pursued to address challenges faced by clients in sharing resource information and to provide a structured approach to visualizing production flows. It was not formally commissioned but arose from identified needs from working in the industry.
LCD : The workshop is intended to be used by ourselves and other designers, and plans may include offering it as a service or licensing it to other consulting firms interested in providing circular design methodologies.
LCD : The design was created to tackle the pressing issues of resource inefficiencies in businesses, to facilitate stakeholder engagement in sustainability discussions, and to help designers efficiently work with businesses to start circular transition projects.
LCD : The design was influenced by extensive research, including a survey of 50 SME manufacturers, as well as iterative testing with long-term clients, which helped refine the approach.
LCD : The target customers are small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) looking to transition to circular business practices and needing support in stakeholder alignment and resource management.
LCD : This design is unique due to its modularity, allowing for flexibility in workshops, and its integration with the C-BAT app, providing a comprehensive material analysis tool that enhances participant engagement.
LCD : The name "Leakage Awareness" reflects the workshop's focus on identifying resource leaks within production processes and raising awareness among stakeholders about inefficiencies.
LCD : One of the tools we used was Figma, for strategic planning and the design of the workshop sheets and C-BAT app.
LCD : The workshop’s ability to build internal consensus and provide a structured approach to addressing sensitive resource issues is its most unique aspect.
LCD : The design involved collaboration with team members Victor Wu and Craig Bossley, as well as feedback from long-term clients and other stakeholders who provided insights and testing opportunities.
LCD : Technology plays a crucial role through the integration of the C-BAT app, which aids in training and generates material analysis reports based on workshop data.
LCD : The design was heavily influenced by data gathered from a survey of SME manufacturers and iterative testing, which informed adjustments to meet client expectations better.
LCD : A significant challenge was encouraging clients to share sensitive resource information. The workshop addresses this through NDAs and feeling-based scales to create a comfortable sharing environment.
LCD : We decided to submit the design to gain recognition of the workshop's innovative approach and its potential to contribute to the field of circular design.
LCD : During the design process, the team learned the importance of stakeholder engagement and iterative feedback, which helped refine the workshop’s effectiveness.
LCD : The workshop not only helps in identifying resource leaks but also creates a platform for ongoing dialogue among stakeholders, paving the way for more impactful and sustainable design solutions in the future.
