Emotionally durable design

I sometimes wonder when I’m consulting: am I just creating more shit to clog up people’s lives and feeding into unsustainable consumption patterns?

I’ve been reading about the concept of 𝗘𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗗𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 by John Chapman and it answers some of my questions in this area. It’s not just about designing products and experiences; it’s about looking to extend the lifespan of products by creating long-term emotional attachments between users and their possessions.

𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗗𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻(that interrelate and make sense to me)
𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲:
Products with a story can create a better relationship with customers and their product. How well do you understand your customer? What stories will resonate with them? Your stories can be communicated through your branding, talking about craftsmanship or customer’s own experience of a product.
𝗘𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁:
If you love something you hold on to it for longer. What are reasons to love a product? By how well it works, what it looks like and/or your experiences with the product. If you love something you’re more likely to repair it and therefore extend its lifespan.

Creating these products involves a deep, nuanced understanding of customer desires and where they fit into their life and their self perception. Don’t get me wrong, I like to shop 🛍 and I don’t we should all be living in a cabin in the woods. Responsibly understanding the role of products in people’s lives, creating what they desire and telling a relevant story helps to make people happier with what they’ve got and buy less, good stuff.