The Circular Design Institute was founded by Elaine Butler in 2021.
The company was born out of frustration at the lack of clear, concise information on how to capture and deliver customer value using circular design strategies.
I spent over 25 years working in construction, as a furniture designer and interior architect, both for other companies and in my own practice.
When studying for a Masters in Product Design for the Circular Economy in NCAD I discovered lots of research on what the circular economy could be but not much on how to get there.
I’m a pragmatic person, interested in action. Businesses need efficient, effective ways to get up to speed on this new way of designing, making and delivering goods and services to customers.
That in essence is what the Circular Design Institute is about. We show designers, manufacturers and construction companies how to uniquely deliver value and generate profit in a circular economy.
Our Services
We deliver this service a number of way; talks, workshops, writing of sustainability & ethics policies, implementation and consultancy. For more information on the services we provide click here.
If you’re not ready to commission circular design services yet then check out our free circular economy guides, sign up for my circular economy & design newsletter (see below) or follow us on LinkedIn, where I’ll be posting updates on circular economy and design news.
Our Clients
We have been fortunate to have worked with the following progressive organisations
Our work with Dublin City Council was through the sustainability consultancy Sustainability Works
Elaine also currently represents the Irish Wood and Interiors Network (IWIN) on the Circular Economy Working Group of the European Furniture Industries Co-federation, and is a member of the technical working group developing European and international standards for circularity.
Design Declares Signatory
The Circular Design Institute is proud to be one of the companies that have signed up to Design Declares Ireland – a growing group of designers, design studios, agencies and institutions here to declare a climate and ecological emergency. As part of the global declaration movement, we commit to harnessing the tools of our industry to reimagine, rebuild and heal our world.
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