Eco-Design Innovations Course
This course immerses you in the latest trends and technologies for a sustainable future. You will learn to integrate circular economy principles, the selection of low-impact materials and energy efficiency strategies into your projects. You will master the tools of life cycle assessment (LCA) and become familiar with the main green building and environmental certification schemes, so you can create innovative designs that minimize the ecological footprint and maximize long-term value, including in boats and nautical products.
Prior knowledge check
These are the skills this program gives you. Tick the ones you already master and we will tell you which part of the syllabus is for you.
You are starting from scratch in this subject. The program is designed precisely for that.
What is the Eco-Design Innovations Course?
This short course prepares you to design products, spaces, services and systems with a low environmental impact from the very first sketch, with applications ranging from buildings and consumer products to boats and nautical equipment. You will study how eco-design evolved from traditional approaches to regenerative and circular strategies; the guiding principles of sustainable design and its link with innovation and competitiveness; how to select sustainable materials and design for disassembly, repair and reuse; the fundamentals of life cycle assessment, eco-design methodologies, digital assessment tools and sustainability indicators such as carbon footprint, water footprint and embodied energy; and the innovations of circular, biomimetic and regenerative design and product-service systems.
What sets this course apart: analysis of real case studies in buildings, products and landscape; hands-on use of tools for energy modeling and environmental impact assessment; a systemic approach based on life cycle thinking and design for circularity; up-to-date coverage of advanced materials such as bioplastics, grown materials and green nanomaterials; an overview of the main environmental certification schemes and regulations; and an integrating project in which you redesign a real product, space or service and define its implementation strategy.
Program highlights
- Foundations of eco-design: from traditional ecodesign to regenerative and circular innovation.
- Sustainable materials: bio-based, recycled and recyclable options and design for disassembly.
- Life cycle assessment: system boundaries, inventory, impact assessment and LCA software.
- Sustainability indicators: carbon footprint, water footprint, embodied energy and material circularity.
- Circular, biomimetic and regenerative design, product-service systems and digital tools.
- Integrating project: sustainable redesign with environmental and techno-economic evaluation.
Syllabus of the Eco-Design Innovations Course
5 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Foundations of eco-design, sustainable innovation and new paradigms for developing low-impact products, spaces and systems
- 1.1. The concept and evolution of eco-design: from traditional ecodesign to contemporary strategies of regenerative and circular innovation
- 1.2. Guiding principles of sustainable design: impact prevention, material efficiency, emissions reduction and life cycle optimization
- 1.3. The relationship between innovation, sustainability and competitiveness: environmental value, market differentiation and the transformation of production models
- 1.4. Impact variables in the design of products and environments: energy, materials, water, waste, maintenance and end of life
- 1.5. Systemic approaches to eco-design: life cycle thinking, design for circularity and the logic of complex systems
Sustainable materials, ecological selection and design strategies to reduce the environmental footprint of contemporary solutions
- 2.1. Criteria for selecting sustainable materials: origin, embodied impact, durability, recyclability and functional compatibility
- 2.2. Low-impact materials: bio-based, recycled and recyclable materials, sustainable composites and next-generation solutions
- 2.3. Comparative assessment of materials using environmental and technical criteria: strength, maintenance, cost and ecological performance
- 2.4. Design for disassembly, repair and reuse: reversible joints, modularity and extended service life of products and systems
- 2.5. Innovations in advanced ecological materials: bioplastics, grown materials, green nanomaterials and smart sustainable surfaces
Eco-design methodologies, life cycle assessment and tools for the comprehensive evaluation of the environmental impact of design
- 3.1. Fundamentals of life cycle assessment: stages, system boundaries, data inventory and environmental impact assessment
- 3.2. Eco-design methodologies applied to products, spaces, services and infrastructure: redesign strategies and incremental or disruptive improvement
- 3.3. Identification of impact hotspots: extraction, manufacturing, transport, use, maintenance and final disposal
- 3.4. Digital tools for the environmental assessment of design: LCA software, databases, parametric modeling and scenario simulation
- 3.5. Sustainability indicators applied to eco-design: carbon footprint, water footprint, embodied energy and material circularity
Innovations in circular, biomimetic and regenerative design for next-generation products, spaces and solutions
- 4.1. Circular design applied to ecological innovation: closed loops, revaluing resources and models of extended or shared use
- 4.2. Biomimicry as a source of sustainable innovation: observing natural systems and transferring their functional principles to design
- 4.3. Regenerative and restorative design: solutions that not only reduce impact but improve the ecological and social environment
- 4.4. Innovations in sustainable product-service systems: servitisation, on-demand use, smart maintenance and reduced material consumption
- 4.5. Integration of digital technologies in eco-design: sensors, data, advanced manufacturing and adaptive optimization of resources
Integrating project in eco-design innovation: conceptual development, environmental assessment and implementation strategy
- 5.1. Definition of the case study: a product, system, space or service that needs a sustainable redesign and environmental innovation
- 5.2. Diagnosis of the current impact and identification of opportunities for improvement: materials, energy, use, maintenance and end of life
- 5.3. Development of the innovative eco-design proposal: concept, functionality, material selection and sustainability strategy
- 5.4. Environmental and techno-economic assessment of the proposed solution: impacts avoided, feasibility, scalability and expected benefits
- 5.5. Design of the implementation strategy: phases, resources, performance indicators and continuous improvement mechanisms
Duration and format of the Eco-Design Innovations Course
It is 300 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.
This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.
Academic leadership and faculty
The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.
Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Eng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Eng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Eng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Eng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration CoordinatorObjectives of the Eco-Design Innovations Course
Career opportunities after the Eco-Design Innovations Course
Questions about the Eco-Design Innovations Course
A practice that aims to create sustainable products, services and systems that minimize their environmental impact across their whole life cycle, from the extraction of raw materials to the end of their useful life.
It reduces the impact of products and processes throughout their life cycle: less energy and material use, lower emissions and waste, longer service life and easier reuse and recycling.
Yes. The course covers the stages of an LCA, system boundaries, data inventory and impact assessment, together with LCA software, databases and the main sustainability indicators.
The course explains what these schemes assess and how eco-design supports them, but it does not award them; certification is granted by the bodies that manage each scheme.
No. It is aimed at designers, engineers, construction professionals, nautical designers and public officials, as the methods apply to products, spaces, services and infrastructure alike.
You choose a product, system, space or service, diagnose its current impact, develop an innovative eco-design proposal, assess its environmental and economic feasibility and plan its implementation.
The course comprises 300 hours of study across 5 modules of about 60 hours each and ends with an applied project. It is taught fully online, so you can progress at your own pace within the schedule set when you enroll.
Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.
- Profile: aimed at architects and urban designers focused on sustainability, civil and environmental engineers working on green infrastructure, construction and property companies adopting eco-efficient practices, product and nautical designers, students and recent graduates in architecture, engineering or design, and public officials promoting sustainable development; a background in architecture, design or environmental engineering, or professional experience in sustainable design projects, and basic familiarity with CAD tools are helpful.
- Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
- Technical resources: a computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and software to view PDF documents.
- Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
- 01ApplicationYour details, background and documents.
- 02Instant reviewWe check that everything is complete and in order.
- 03EnrollmentChoose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.
Ask us before you enroll
Leave your details and admissions will write to you to answer any questions. If you are already sure, you can apply and pay in the same session.