Aligning eco-design methods with makers' approaches

The need for political, social, and economic paradigm shifts necessitates new design research methods to integrate sustainability into designer practices. However, eco-design approaches remain experimental and confined within industrial design practices. Simultaneously, grassroots initiatives have emerged, proposing alternative ways to design systems. This research examines eco-design approaches alongside local initiatives, seeking to understand the potential evolution of sustainability integration into the current product design process led by industries. To support this analysis, the study proposes and applies a protocol designed to compare eco-design methods with grassroots-initiative design practices, first putting eco-design methods into dialogue with grassroots initiative actors, and then with expert designers. Findings include this original analysis of eco-design approaches and recommendations for eco-design research communities. This bottom-up approach has the potential to foster sustainability practices in industries that align with evolving local sociotechnical systems. • Grassroots initiatives participate to make ecodesign methods evolve. • A protocol to confront local practices to existing ecodesign methods. • Align the industry's sustainability with emerging local socio-technical paradigm. • Transforming product life cycle within territorial contexts for shifting to sustainable systems.