Knowledge Base Repository
In addition to research papers, the Design Society is developing several valuable resources for those interested in the study of design. These include a repository of PhD theses, a library of case studies and transcripts of design activities, and an archive of our newsletters. Please note that these resources are accessible exclusively to Design Society members.
5P Sustainability Profile: An Attempt To Gauge Design Impact
Vats, Shivam; Malhotra, Sugandh; Kumar Das, Lalit
Type:
Year:
2026
Editor:
Juuti, T.; Karhunen, V; Vanhatalo, M.; Lehtonen, T.;Kopra, M-J.
Author:
Series:
NordDESIGN
Institution:
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, India; Delhi Technological University, India
Page(s):
089-098
DOI number:
ISBN:
978-1-912254-21-7
ISSN:
NA
Abstract:
This paper introduces a design-oriented method for building a project “Sustainability Profile” that makes a product’s contribution to sustainable development visible and discussable through a UN SDG–inspired 5P lens: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnership. Using a grounded, bottom-up approach, we coded 30 Master of Design project abstracts to extract design concerns, motivations, values, and intended impacts, then mapped these codes to the 5Ps.
Cross-project consolidation and clustering yielded a reusable set of 5P indicators assembled into a sustainability rating matrix. Projects are assessed with a binary rule (indicator present/absent) and normalised within each pillar to account for differing indicator counts, then visualised as radar charts. A pilot on five projects shows how profiles reveal “spikes” and “slumps,” enabling reflection and earlier integration of sustainability beyond environmental optimisation, including Peace and Partnership and a broadened view of Prosperity. Results show skew toward People and Prosperity; Planet is often neglected overall.
Cross-project consolidation and clustering yielded a reusable set of 5P indicators assembled into a sustainability rating matrix. Projects are assessed with a binary rule (indicator present/absent) and normalised within each pillar to account for differing indicator counts, then visualised as radar charts. A pilot on five projects shows how profiles reveal “spikes” and “slumps,” enabling reflection and earlier integration of sustainability beyond environmental optimisation, including Peace and Partnership and a broadened view of Prosperity. Results show skew toward People and Prosperity; Planet is often neglected overall.
Keywords:
