Virtual Workshop: Designing for Sustainability - Material Impacts and Life Cycle Strategies

 Designing for Sustainability -

Material Impacts and Life Cycle Strategies

Online: Tuesday, April 14, 2026

11:00 AM - 1:00 PM ET

Sustainable design starts with materials. By understanding what materials are made of, where they come from, how they move and transform through the supply chain, and what happens at end‑of‑life, designers can make choices that dramatically reduce environmental and social impacts.

Educator Rico Ruffino will share practical strategies for launching sustainable design projects - whether you are working in interior design, furniture or product design and development.

Topics include:

• Material selection and tracking as the foundation of sustainability
• Ethical and stewardship considerations for any design
• Application of the “80% rule” — recognizing that most environmental and end of life impacts are locked in during the design phase.
• The full life cycle of a material and its effects on ecosystems and communities
• How to strengthen ownership of material inputs and outcomes to influence suppliers and support circular end‑of‑life strategies

Strategies from this presentation come from Ruffino’s book Omni Design Ecosystem, which offers a flexible methodology for applying sustainable design principles to any product. His framework helps designers integrate environmental and social considerations from concept through end-of-life, regardless of scale or category.

Rico Ruffino, North Carolina State University

Rico Ruffino is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Forest Biomaterials at North Carolina State University. He is an instructor for Principles of Sustainable Product Development, Product Visualization, and Sustainable Product Development Capstone. 

Assistant Professor Ruffino has established a Sustainable Design and Testing Service Center that supports companies in developing and testing new sustainable products. It enables students to design and fabricate more environmentally and human-centered products. Some of the critical areas are to use technology that streamlines the ideation process, thereby minimizing resource overuse. His current research focus is on the application of virtual reality in instructional design. He is a member of the Industrial Design Society of America and the Sustainable Furniture Council. He actively promotes sustainability for a more circular economy.

LIVE VIRTUAL WORKSHOP

Tuesday, April 14, 11:00am ET

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