This resource is intended as an educational tool for undergraduate designers and engineers. It pulls together existing material on all aspects of sustainable design, however, its focus is on the socio-centric dimension of sustainable design. Sustainable design as seen in the diagram requires consideration of all three dimensions of sustainability, namely, techno-centric, eco-centric and socio-centric. Click on each concern to find a definition. Go the the Past & Future section to find a brief history of sustainable design.

Being sustainable in design actually is about leaving the final design to later; it means that first and foremost sustainable design is to consider the design's purpose and its effects on the user, the community, and society as a whole.

Becoming a sustainable designer requires sense, passion and encouragement.