The emerging role of CMF designers in sustainable product development: insight from practice

Designers are playing an increasingly crucial role in the transition to more sustainable consumption patterns. This has opened new areas of focus in design, one of which is CMF (Colour, Material, Finish) design. CMF design allows small, low-impact changes to be made to the design of a product without disrupting the production process. Its potential benefits could be even greater if conceptualised and shared as a distinct design trajectory. The practical and professional nature of CMF design has resulted in a lack of literature on the subject. This research aims to address this gap by exploring the professional backgrounds, training pathways, and sustainability-related perspectives of CMF practitioners. The study is based on qualitative data gathered through interviews with 14 professionals and academics in the field. These interviews highlighted the skills and knowledge required for CMF practice and its relationship with sustainability. Finally, it was possible to identify tools for integrating CMF design with sustainability actions. This research translates the particular know-how of a process created from the bottom up by designers into a more tangible and shareable systematisation. The findings encourage academic and professional communities to recognise CMF as a lever for innovation, with the capacity to support sustainability goals.