Good design is endearing. When people like something, they keep it, and don’t replace it. Well designed products tend to stick around — for generations.
In this way, good design encourages reuse; discourages disposability.
It may be much more costly, monetarily and environmentally, to build something outstanding. An exceptional design can mean exceptionally difficult manufacturing. But savings mount up over time, as the artifact endures, and eliminates many disposable products.
I still shave with straight razors that are 60-80 years old. Although manufacturing, say a new Thiers-Issard razor, is expensive, the legions of disposable shavers it nullifies will grow for decades, possibly centuries.
Good design really is good for the planet.
As a counterpoint, Anti-sustainable Design points out that we buy more of things we like than we need — encouraging over-consumption.
Comment by Vincent Gable — July 22, 2009 @ 11:03 pm