logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2025
16m 48s

Circular design essentials: What every d...

Ellen MacArthur Foundation
About this episode

Circular design is a hot topic, but moving beyond the buzzwords to practical implementation can be a real challenge. In this episode, we go deep with Joe Iles, Head of Design Activation at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, to unpack the essential principles and skills every designer should have in their toolkit.

Joe shares a compelling perspective on circular design - it's not just about creating durable products, but rather reflecting the complex, interconnected systems that make up our world. He explores why circular design ideas often struggle to scale, despite the abundance of innovative concepts out there.

He also shares the key design competencies that are crucial for driving the transition to a circular model, from systems thinking to prototyping and collaboration. 

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review or a comment on Spotify or YouTube. Your support helps us to spread the word about the circular economy.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Up next
Today
The circular economy: a ‘triple play’ climate solution for China | Circling Back
Amid rising emissions, rising temperatures, and the rapid rollout of material-intensive renewable energy systems that promise to curb them both, climate mitigation and adaptation are a central priority for China’s government. In this episode, host Seb talks to Lei Chen from the E ... Show More
16m 41s
Aug 19
Are circular cities the key to future-proofing Europe? | Circling Back
Could rethinking our cities through a circular lens be the key to future-proofing Europe whilst offering exciting investment opportunities?Join us in the third of our five-part Circling Back series of the Circular Economy Show, to hear host Lou Waldegrave speak with Julia Okatz f ... Show More
22m 15s
Aug 12
The competitive case for circular economy: From peripheral to pivotal | Circling Back
The circular economy can no longer be sidelined as a ‘nice to have’. Not only can it future-proof individual business operations, it can also help entire industries stay competitive and resilient in a fast-changing world. In this episode we’re going back to the beginning of the y ... Show More
31 m
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2024
The Designer Behind Beats headphones' $1.5 Billion Success with Robert Brunner, Chief Designer at Beats by Dr. Dre | E230
In this episode of the Product Podcast, we're thrilled to host Robert Brunner, Chief Designer at Beats by Dr. Dre and founder of Ammunition. Robert takes us on an enlightening journey through his remarkable career, sharing the secrets behind designing products that drive bil ... Show More
46m 16s
Nov 2023
Charlotte Fiell: what is design thinking today?
Design is not just a vehicle for commercial gain. Today, it is increasingly viewed as a transformational tool for social change. But what is ‘design thinking’? Charlotte Fiell’s book ‘The Story of Design’ chronicles the history of this approach. In this episode, Charlotte discuss ... Show More
46 m
Feb 2025
Why Creative Freedom is a Graphic Designers Kryptonite—And How to Actually Unlock Your Design Genius
Graphic designers love to complain about brand guidelines, tight budgets, and impossible client restrictions—but what if those so-called limitations are actually the secret weapon to better design?That’s right—constraints don’t kill creativity; they fuel it. The best designers, t ... Show More
51m 38s
Oct 2018
010: What Makes You a Designer
There are many things I do during a typical day – designing “stuff” is just one very small portion – but I still consider myself a designer more so than a project architect. Since I work at a smallish firm, everyone wears many hats and nobody has just one task or label. To be con ... Show More
53m 39s
Sep 2024
A Recipe for Bad Design - Why Social Media Hacks Are Killing Your Creativity
We live in a world where TikTok and Instagram reels are teaching designers how to shortcut their way through creativity. But let’s be real – following so-called 'design recipes' does nothing but turn you into a copycat. In this episode of The Angry Designer podcast, we ... Show More
46m 18s
Jul 11
Ep 177 - Designing a Life Beyond Strategy: Embodiment, Systems, and Creative Sovereignty with Katie Maclachlan ( LAX of Limitation, 5/1 Splenic Manifestor)
⭐️ Get your free Human Design Chart https://www.miranda-mitchell.com/free-human-design-chart-video In this episode of the Provoking Prosperity Podcast, host Miranda Mitchell interviews Katie Maclachlan, founder of Be Good Guide and self-proclaimed embodiment architect. Katie shar ... Show More
55m 33s
Oct 2023
#158 Building Human-Centered AI Experiences with Haris Butt, Head of Product Design at ClickUp
In today's AI landscape, organizations are actively exploring how to seamlessly embed AI into their products, systems, processes, and workflows. The success of ChatGPT stands as a testament to this. Its success is not solely due to the performance of the underlying model; a signi ... Show More
53m 39s
Aug 2024
156. Creative Communication: How Our Design Choices Illustrate Our Values
As a designer, Scott Doorley is interested in how humans create the world around them. It’s a conversation, he says, that starts with the question: What kind of world do we want?Doorley is the creative director of the Stanford d.school and co-author of the book, Assembling Tomorr ... Show More
26 m
Mar 2025
What Founders Can Do To Improve Their Design Game
In this special episode of Design Review, Aaron sits down with Raphael Schaad, the Head of Calendar at Notion to discuss his leap from designer to founder, why illustration is an important first step when building a new product, and what ultimately makes designers uniquely qualif ... Show More
20m 43s
Aug 15
The Best of The BoF Podcast: Francesco Risso Says Fashion Should Slow Down to Find Its Magic Again
Born in Sardinia on a sailing boat to self-described “adventurous” parents, Francesco Risso grew up in an environment that fostered independence, spontaneity and a deep need to create. After formative years at Polimoda, FIT and Central Saint Martins — where he studied under the l ... Show More
1 h