Creating a reusable visual system for whole life carbon assessment

Client

Buro Happold

Sector

Built Environment / Sustainability / Construction

Overview

This project centred on the creation of a Whole Life Carbon Calculator designed to help assess carbon impact across each stage of a building’s lifecycle, from construction through to operation. Although the calculator was the main output, the project also evolved into a wider visual system that could be applied consistently across the team’s work.

The Challenge

The challenge was to communicate lifecycle carbon data in a way that felt clear, structured and practical for ongoing use. The information needed to support assessment across different project stages while also helping users understand the different levels of circularity that could be achieved within each development. As a single infographic, it needed to work hard both as a standalone tool and as the foundation for wider team application.

The Approach

I designed the calculator as a focused visual communication tool that mapped the stages of a building’s life and the associated carbon considerations in a way that was easy to read and cross-reference. To make the system more intuitive and engaging, I introduced illustrations representing each lifecycle stage, helping users connect more clearly with the sequence and meaning behind the data.

Beyond the calculator itself, I developed the output into a reusable visual system that the team could implement more consistently across related work. This created a stronger framework for presenting carbon and circularity data with greater cohesion and clarity.

The Outcome

The result was a clear and adaptable assessment tool that helped structure whole life carbon thinking in a more accessible way. By extending the infographic into a broader visual system, the project also gave the team a more consistent method for communicating lifecycle data across future sustainability work.