Material Design in a Circular Economy

Description from DukeHub

Students will study material life cycles and consider how to transform current linear to circular material systems. The decisions we make at the design stage determine whether a material can remain in circulation or enters a waste stream. The class will first orient to the course content through collectively defining critical terminology. Next, we will engage with frameworks of material design and selection, such as Biomimicry, the 12 Principles of Green Engineering, and Ashby selection charts. Current material systems challenges, such as polymer composites and critical minerals, will serve as case studies. Finally, students will apply what they learn in the course through a collaborative material redesign project.

Skills

• designtitle: "design"

AI-resilient: 2 of 5 2/5

• No: Physical, lab or field work
• ✓Yes: Live work with people · "collaborative"
• ✓Yes: Judgment someone is accountable for · "decisions"
• No: A craft you practice with your hands or body
• No: Small, in-person format

The checks lean on Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025), which found generative AI applies least to physical work and hands-on work with people. A signal, not a promise. How the score works

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