Materials as Agents of Change. Innovation Trajectories Toward Sustainable and Circular Transition.

This article examines the central role of materials in shaping circular design practices and guiding sustainable transitions. Framed within the intersections of Transition Design, Advanced Design, and Circular Design, materials are considered not as passive inputs but as co-evolving actors that influence processes, supply chains, and cultural imaginaries. Through theoretical analysis and case studies, the article highlights how innovative approaches to material design can regenerate resources, enhance transparency through digital and AI-based technologies, enable collaborative supply chains, and foster new aesthetic and ethical values. By addressing materials as agents of change, design is positioned as a catalyst for systemic and cultural transformation in the face of current environmental and social crises. From this perspective, four operational implications emerge for design, outlining an integrated framework for action. As an introductory contribution to the Open Debate section of diid on design and materials, the article sets the stage for further reflections and discussions on the experimental trajectories shaping contemporary design cultures.