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Circular Design Contract
To this day, much of the economy still follows a linear model: designers create, manufacturers produce, retailers sell – and users consume. Value is generated through units sold, not through the lifespan or quality of use. This system stands in stark contrast to the goals of the circular economy, which is built on longevity, repairability, reuse, and material recovery.
While circularity seeks to keep products in use for as long as possible, current contractual and remuneration models reward rapid turnover. For manufacturers and designers, developing especially durable, repairable, or modular products is hardly economically viable – their income remains tied to the sale of new units. As a result, the idea of circularity often remains a vision, while practice is dominated by linear business interests.
DDW-Beacon Stefan Diez discusses the Circular Design Contract with Anders Jepsen of NorNorm. Join us for a debate in the Van Abbemuseum on Monday 20 October when we try to develop a new manner of contracting. We need your thoughts!