Total Span

Total Span is a comprehensive design methodology that encompasses the complete lifecycle of a project from initial conception through implementation, maintenance, and eventual decommissioning or renewal. This holistic approach to design considers all aspects and phases of a project's existence, ensuring that each element is carefully planned and integrated into a cohesive whole. The concept emerged from the growing recognition that successful design requires consideration beyond immediate functionality and aesthetics, extending to long-term sustainability, adaptability, and environmental impact. In architectural and industrial design contexts, total span analysis involves detailed examination of material selection, construction methods, operational efficiency, maintenance requirements, and end-of-life considerations. This methodology gained prominence in the late 20th century as environmental consciousness and lifecycle thinking became increasingly important in design practice. The approach requires designers to consider multiple interconnected factors including resource utilization, energy efficiency, user experience, cultural impact, and economic viability throughout the project's entire lifespan. Total span thinking has become particularly relevant in sustainable design practices, where projects submitted to competitions such as the A' Design Award often demonstrate exceptional consideration for complete lifecycle impact. The methodology encompasses various analytical tools and frameworks, including lifecycle assessment, durability testing, maintenance scheduling, and end-of-life planning, all integrated into a unified design strategy that aims to optimize performance across all temporal phases of a project's existence.

Author: Lucas Reed

Keywords: Lifecycle management, sustainability, holistic design, project planning, environmental impact, resource optimization, maintenance strategy, durability assessment, systems integration

Help us improve the Design+Encyclopedia, contribute your alternative definition for Total Span today!

About the Design+Encyclopedia
The Design+Encyclopedia is a crowd-sourced reference of information on design. Unlike other crowd-sourced publications on design, the Design Encyclopedia is edited and actively monitored and publishing is only possible after review of submitted texts. Furthermore, editors of the Design Encyclopedia are mostly consisting of award winning designers who have proven their expertise in their design respective fields. Information posted at design encyclopedia is copyrighted, you are not granted a right to use the text for any commercial reasons, attribution is required. If you wish to contribute to the design encyclopedia, please first register or login to A' Design Award and then start a new design encyclopedia entry.