The sustainable development goals outlined in the 2030 Agenda encompass a range of global challenges aimed at promoting prosperity and security for both current and future generations. Within this context, the Social Life Cycle Assessment emerges as a valuable tool for assessing the socioeconomic impact assessment associated with the life cycle of industrial products. Despite the presence of a methodological framework with a structured process, the implementation of the Social Life Cycle Assessment within the industrial domain is hampered by the lack of precise indicators, context-specific databases, limited case studies, and the dynamic characteristics inherent in social data. This study conducts a comprehensive review of the scientific literature and examines methodologies, databases, and software, focusing specifically on its applicability in the design and development of industrial products. The main objective is to evaluate the current research effort, identify available technical and digital resources for implementation in industrial companies, and outline key areas of work and specific challenges related to the social dimension of life cycle assessment. The results emphasize the priority of improving indicator frameworks within specific impact categories and developing novel metrics to mitigate uncertainty in decision-making processes. Furthermore, it underscores the importance of transitioning to standardized application procedures within industrial product sectors, thus ensuring methodological consistency and improving the reliability of assessments.

The automation of environmental assessment processes aimed at reducing the ecological footprint of industrial facilities, buildings, and infrastructure is one of the main challenges currently faced by the construction sector. In this context, Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a comprehensive methodology that enables the creation of digital models, facilitating the analysis of environmental performance throughout the life cycle of built assets. In addition to the capabilities offered by BIM, specialized tools for environmental impact analysis implement the standardized life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. However, one of the current limitations is the integration of BIM models and LCA tools. Few software solutions enable automated data transfer, complicating the environmental assessment process. The objective of this study is to evaluate the reliability of data transfer from BIM models to LCA tools, using an industrial warehouse as a case study. The research compares two LCA tools: Athena Impact Estimator, specialized in the construction sector, and SimaPro, a professional tool with advanced capabilities. This study is structured in two phases: (i) the development of a BIM model in Revit, including the definition of structural and functional components and the export of data to LCA tools, and (ii) the execution of the life cycle assessment in compliance with ISO 14040 and EN 15804 standards. The results show methodological and interoperability differences between the two tools, highlighting their strengths and limitations in terms of the precision of the results, resource consumption, training and expertise requirements, scope of environmental impact calculations, and adaptability to the construction sector in the integration of an LCA with a BIM model.

The integration of virtual and augmented reality is transforming processes in the field of product design. This study evaluates the usability of immersive digital tools applied to industrial design through a combined market research and empirical case study, using the software ‘Gravity Sketch’ and the immersive headset ‘Meta Quest 3’. An embedded single case study was conducted based on the international standard ISO 9241-11, considering the dimensions of effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction, analysed through nine indicators: tasks completed, time to complete tasks, dimensional accuracy, interoperability, interactivity, fatigue, human error, learning curve, and perceived creativity. The results show a progressive improvement in user–system interaction across the seven Design Units, as users become more familiar with immersive technologies. Effectiveness improves as users gain experience, though it remains sensitive to design complexity. Efficiency shows favourable values even in early stages, reflecting operational fluency despite learning demands. Satisfaction records the greatest improvement, driven by smoother interaction and greater creative freedom. These findings highlight the potential of immersive tools to support design processes while also underlining the need for future research on sustained usability, interface ergonomics, and collaborative workflows in extended reality environments.

Recent advances in visual programming tools for algorithmic modelling have significantly expanded the possibilities for designing industrial products. This study analyses the capacity and adaptability of Grasshopper, a graphical algorithm editor integrated with Rhinoceros 3D, as a parametric design tool in the development of product platforms. Three case studies were conducted to evaluate the impact of parameter configuration in product families: perfume bottles, outdoor furniture, and desk organisers. The analysis provided insight into the ability of Grasshopper to (1) automate the generation of product variants within platforms; (2) enable the flexible creation of scalable, customised design alternatives; and (3) improve efficiency in the platform design process in terms of time and technical resources. The results show that Grasshopper provides strong capabilities for customising geometric parameters compared to traditional modelling in Rhinoceros 3D. However, its adaptability is more limited when customisation involves interdependent parameters, such as those related to ergonomics or usability, due to the difficulty of translating these requirements into algorithmic structures. In addition, the initial definition of parameters and constraints may restrict modifications in later design phases. These findings underline the need for algorithm models that support iterative adjustments and flexible reconfiguration throughout all phases of the design process.

Visual stimulation has a great impact on the emotional and cognitive development of children. Visual perception of products influences the first decisions of the user, and it is key to instilling trust during first impressions. For this reason, visual qualities play an important role in perceptions, expectations, and product choices. It is essential to pursue rich visual designs that have a positive impact on children. This is even more relevant for those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who tend to experience sensory stimuli differently than typically developing children, which affects their daily performance. Studies claim that although they can vary within the sensory range, children with ASD are usually at one end of the sensitivity spectrum, meaning that they have insufficient or exaggerated responses, therefore presenting hypo- or hypersensitivity, respectively. This means that for products to be safe, comfortable, and easy to use, they must be adapted to the specific type of sensitivity of the child. However, most products are aimed at autism in general but are not adapted to each type of sensitivity, leading to frustration and rejection in many cases. This work explores the specific design guidelines and parameters for each type of visual sensitivity and concludes that the design must aim for different purposes, visual stimulation, or relaxation, depending on the type of sensitivity. It implements these findings by redesigning a multifunctional toy for hyper- and hyposensitivity, with the aim of demonstrating the importance of adapting products to the specific type of visual sensitivity of these children.