PAST™ - designing for longevity
There is a saying used in architecture that “the greenest building is the one that already exists”. This also applies to pretty much every product we use. The embodied carbon in the materials and processes already used to produce physical artefacts means that replacing them with more efficient or more responsible alternatives often uses considerably more energy, which could take centuries to offset.
Whether it is fast clothing, fast food, fast furniture or fast electronics, there is no doubt that our increased consumption behaviours have been choking our planet. Much of the global economy is dependent on encouraging us to buy more, upgrade, supersize, overhaul, and generally consume way more than we need and certainly more than the planet can support.
Fortunately, it is becoming widely acknowledged that reducing consumption and using products for as long as possible is one of the most environmentally positive things we can do. Increased public awareness of this fact, and changing regulations, are driving producers and retailers to adopt responsible business practices to make products last longer. To promote sustainable consumption and reduce the premature disposal of viable goods, maintenance and repair play a significant role, and design plays an essential role in the development of products with longevity in mind.
Through the discipline of design, we are expected to predict how things function during use, but it is becoming increasingly important for us to consider how they deteriorate and are abused, refurbished, upgraded, repurposed, superseded and disposed of.
When designing for longevity, there are four key lenses we can look through which can be neatly summarised as follows:
Physical - Is the component design and material selection durable enough for long-term use?
Aesthetic - Will a product’s visual appearance influence long-term use as it wears, and style trends change?
Societal - How susceptible will the product be to fads and cultural shifts to maintain its continued usefulness and relevance?
Technological - Are technological advancements likely to influence product redundancy and replacement before it wears out?
PAST™ as a principle leverages the power of hindsight. We can tap into our learnings and understanding of how past products have stood the test of time and find ways to mitigate the issues that shorten their life.
When designing for longevity, there are four key lenses we can look through
Physical
When we think about design for longevity, we normally focus on physical durability. This is understandable, as most products that remain in long-term use typically employ durable materials or serviceable parts designed to be replaced.
Several key external factors influence the physical degradation of a component. These include: abrasion, impact, fatigue, erosion, corrosion, chemical exposure, temperature, humidity, light, or biological organisms. Depending on the product’s function and where it is used, most factors that influence a product’s condition can be mitigated through good design, the selection of appropriate materials and regular care routines.
If a product fails prematurely, it’s often assumed by the user to be their fault. However, premature failure is often the result of cost-optimised parts and components that are only expected to last for the minimum warranty period. After which, the responsibility transfers from the manufacturer to the consumer. For over a century, the principle of planned obsolescence has driven businesses to adopt practices that ensure their products are cost-competitive, maximise their gross margins and encourage repeat purchases. Changes in legislation are aiming to address this by introducing more stringent Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
In particular, the EU Right to Repair Act mandates that manufacturers of an expanding list of products, like white goods, televisions and laptops, make spare parts and repair information available for up to ten years after the product is discontinued. The act includes making parts available for “simple and safe” repairs to consumers and for “trickier” repairs to professional repairers.
The automotive sector is a good example where the product has always been designed with repair in mind. Consumable components are designed to wear out, and the availability of these parts is supported for many years. If we apply similar practices in other products, with good design and material choices, we not only produce things that last significantly longer, but also make it easier for people to choose servicing and repair over replacement.
Aesthetic
We each place varying levels of importance on outward appearance, whether it is through the products we own or the clothes we wear. How things look has an aesthetic and symbolic value that reflects how others perceive us and how we feel about ourselves. When designing for longevity, aesthetic appearance is crucial for maintaining long-term use, so we should ask ourselves two key questions:
Does a deterioration in condition due to cosmetic degradation compromise continued use?
Will changes in style and fashion mean the visual appearance becomes quickly outdated?
Condition
For many, the pursuit of visual perfection increases their likelihood of continuing to use some items. However, if we are to embrace the principle of keeping products in use for as long as possible, then we should change our attitudes toward cosmetic imperfection, damage and wear. After all, wear is a natural symptom of age, and we are becoming more embracing of its charm.
Although damage and repairs can change a product’s appearance, for some, this can also add to its beauty and individuality. There is a growth in repairing damaged clothing with decorative stitching to make repairs intentionally noticeable. Similarly, we see the ancient art of Kintsugi (golden repair), where visible ceramic repair is considered part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise.
Wear tells interesting stories. For some, objects with a patina that show visible signs of wear or damage add to their appeal and even provide character, which often contributes to the likelihood of continued care and use. Undertaking a repair on an item often means that we get more emotionally attached to it. Studies show that on average, we keep repaired items of clothing for another 1.3 years, and it’s more likely to be much longer for more durable items.
We are even becoming more tolerant of adopting products previously owned by others, with or without signs of wear and damage. We are seeing a growth in the acceptability of previously owned items as the term ‘second hand’ is being rebranded to be ‘Preloved’. Whatever we call it, buying or owning used items is throwing off the stigma it once had. New retail platforms and businesses are springing up to support it, such as Amazon Renewed, Refurbished on eBay, BackMarket, Vinted, etc. This is making commercial sense as we are seeing marketplaces for refurbished goods growing. For example, in 2024, the refurbished mobile phone market was valued at £76b and set to grow another 11.2% over the next 2 years.
Our demand for visual perfection and uniformity is changing as we are placing greater importance on the story of an object. Uniqueness, scarcity and imperfection are playing a big part in this, with some considering them an important form of personal expression.
Style and Fashion
The clothing industry is reliant on us replacing garments, not just when they wear out, but when trends dictate that a style is outdated. Product redundancy, influenced by style, also extends to many consumer durable products. This type of consumption not only means that we are “victims of fashion”, but so is the planet.
Whether it is products, clothing, furniture or vehicles, we have become conditioned to place high importance on the outward expression of ourselves through the products we own or use. And we are susceptible to being judged when not conforming to collective contemporary tastes. In short, our desire for newness ultimately drives a culture of premature redundancy, which is at odds with the principle of longevity.
Reversing entrenched consumption behaviours and attitudes towards being “on trend” is difficult and will take time. As designers, we should be asking ourselves not only what is going to look good now, but will it remain appealing in 10, 20, 30 years?
Some items transcend trends, so it’s worthwhile studying the classics to find examples of products with timeless qualities. Of course, as designers, we would all love to design products that are cosmetically relevant for generations, but it’s difficult to characterise a classic or identify a magic formula that ensures an enduring appeal. Most iconic or classic designs have emerged with time.
Societal
A product’s continued use is susceptible to cultural shifts or changes to established behaviours, which may lead to a product’s unplanned obsolescence. New products and services can rise and fall based on societal changes, where products developed to support emerging needs may subsequently become superfluous. Some changes can be anticipated, but some highly influential events can be virtually impossible to predict and therefore impossible to factor into a product’s likely lifespan.
A product can be rendered redundant by a variety of factors, influenced by technological advancements (covered later), the latest knowledge and trends in health and lifestyle, geopolitical events, shifts in public attitudes, etc. Convenience has driven many stand-alone products to become redundant as they are integrated with other products. Compact digital cameras have been integrated into phones, Sat Navs, hands-free calling, and dash cams have all since been included as permanent features in cars.
An example where broader societal shifts are creating products that displace those that already exist is products born out of our growing concern over the environment. The growth of electric vehicles, for instance, is naturally displacing vehicles that could be maintained for several decades. This transition will require careful management to avoid the benefits of change placing a higher burden on the planet.
The COVID pandemic is a good example of an unpredictable event that influenced changes to the products and behaviours in our lives in a multitude of ways. Whether it was the rapid and widespread adoption of video/digital communication, the growth of products supporting the home working sector, or the explosion of online retail, some products have emerged whilst others have receded in use. Growth in one category typically means displacement elsewhere, which ultimately results in product redundancy and waste.
Technological
Technological progress is one of the most influential factors that impact how long we use the products we own. Technology is advancing at such a rapid rate that it inevitably generates product redundancy. This is particularly evident in products with electrical or electronic functionality. We only need to look in the drawer full of mobile phones accumulated throughout our lives to appreciate this. This is certainly a key contributor to the fastest-growing global waste stream, e-waste.
There are 3 key challenges we need to consider when reconciling our desire to keep up to date with making products that last. These include Physical features, Electronic Hardware, and Electronic Software.
Physical Features
The introduction and promotion of new features is a way for manufacturers to remain competitive, but once a product has been manufactured and is in use, it is difficult to integrate new physical features.
Adding, removing or modifying physical features either requires returning it to the manufacturer, commissioning third-party professionals, or leaving it up to the consumer to undertake the task. Modularity is the simplest approach for most consumers, as systems can be designed for plug-in modules. But the higher the level of complexity, the less confident the novice user will be at undertaking upgrades.
Electronic Hardware
Whether it’s more efficient batteries, increased data storage or new standards in charging ports, technological advancements mean that products are constantly changing. Implementing changes at an individual component level is beyond the practical capabilities of even the most competent repairer, making the retrofitting of upgrades unlikely.
And just as electronic components are increasing in their capabilities, they are also decreasing in price. This cost-optimisation makes more features and technologies affordable, contributing to a growth in electronic items that are so low-cost they could be considered disposable.
However, we are seeing some attempts to tackle this issue, with EU Battery Regulations aiming to make batteries sustainable throughout their lifecycle. From 2027, products containing batteries must be designed to ensure that they are easily removable and replaceable by the end-user.
Electronic Software
You only need to consider the frequency of app updates on your smartphone to appreciate that software improves at a fast pace. Whether it’s more efficient power management, new digital features or bug fixes, when you have a device that has communication methods built in, making changes can be pretty straightforward.
Fortunately, our phones and many smart devices are now sophisticated enough to allow software updates to be pushed to them. However, it is not always appropriate or cost-effective to include this level of complex hardware in low-cost or simple electronic devices. In this case, devices have simpler, non-upgradable code permanently installed in microprocessors called firmware. These products can quickly become outdated.
Conclusion
PAST™ provides the lenses through which we can look when developing new products with longevity in mind. It’s interesting to see that the principle of disassembly is one thing that runs through each lens and should be a key focus for design. For Physical, it facilitates servicing and repair, for Aesthetic, it allows for cosmetic facelifts, for Societal, it benefits reclamation and repurposing and for Technological, it creates opportunities for upgrades.
We know that it is feasible to produce products that can be used for much longer, maybe even for generations. Even when they are no longer useful, they can be designed to aid disassembly for responsible management back into the circular economy.
If we are to inspire a fundamental shift away from our disposable culture, we need to offer solutions and product experiences that are attractive and convenient to all. This will require manufacturers and retailers to rethink their business models, governments to offer greater incentives, and consumers to accept that they will need to change their established behaviours. These challenges offer exciting opportunities for innovation and rewards for companies, their users and our planet.
Written by Dai Sanders
PAST™ provides the lenses through which we can look when developing new products with longevity in mind
