Overconsumption has become a way of life for the average American. Our high levels of consumption, however, have not resulted in increased happiness-we are actually less happy.
Consumer psychologists suggest that the missing element in most unsuccessful user-product relationships is meaning. Buyers are looking for an increasing amount of meaning in the objects they purchase-something most products promise but don’t deliver.
The emerging concept of Emotional Durability seeks to alleviate the problems of overconsumption and user dissatisfaction by advocating for the design of meaningful products that facilitate long-term use. It rejects the outdated and Earth-destroying practice of planned obsolescence, imbuing products with characteristics that make them appealing at purchase, but even more appealing through use.
A wide spectrum of theorists and practitioners have written on the topic of Emotional Durability, but few, if any have created actionable guidelines for product designers. This thesis will investigate the root causes of consumption and failed user-product relationships in order to produce a set of principles for designers and manufacturers to utilize when designing new products and user experiences.
The resulting principles will be shared with designers in the hopes of shaping an appreciation for emotionally durable design as well as providing ideas for its implementation.