Aisling Nolan

This project examines how families manage children’s belongings and what that reveals about opportunities for circular design.

Through a deep dive into how families acquire, use, and pass on children’s items, this research highlights the invisible labour behind managing children's goods - the ongoing cycle of sorting, storing, upgrading, and letting go. While secondhand options exist, they are often fragmented, time-consuming, and inconsistent, placing the burden on individuals rather than systems.

Using a systems and design lens, this project positions children’s goods as a strong entry point for circular consumption. These items are frequently outgrown, lightly used, and socially accepted as shareable, yet the systems required for circulating them seamlessly are riddled with friction.

Drawing on parent interviews, behavioural insights, and market analysis, the research explores what would make circular options not just viable, but preferable. Early findings highlight the role of curation, strong branding, and seamless experiences that mirror the benefits of retail, without the waste.

Ultimately, this work calls for a shift from ownership to access, from fragmented systems to connected flows, and from effortful sustainability to intuitive participation.

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Aisling Nolan is a systems designer rethinking how we consume, reuse, and value everyday goods. Her work challenges the idea that sustainability is simply a matter of individual choice, instead revealing how systems of convenience, cost, and cognitive load shape behaviour at scale. She focuses on designing circular systems that work in real life, making sustainable choices not just possible, but practical.