Basically Ifixit shows you how to fix your own electronic devices and removes the fear factor. It also provides you with all the parts and tools you may need to do this. I think it is a fantastic precedent as it brings back the tinkerer mindset that we were brought up to have.
In the future I plan to fix my old phone to put it all to the test.
“For manufacturers, a product that is thrown away after being used, forcing the customer to keep coming back for more, creates endless profit potential”
What’s mine is yours
After World War 1, advertisers encouraged the consumption of disposable goods. They were more convenient, time efficient and more hygienic than repetitive consumption. Post-war, people embraced the invention, and abundance, of new products as ‘progress’. Initially, paper cups, straws, Band-Aids, paper-towels, and shopping bags showed that disposability was a metaphor for freedom, as liberation for housewives.
Planned obsolescence is the deliberate design of products to limit their lifespan. Meaning they are intentionally built to expire. This affect is achieved by making products out of materials that are inadequate.
Perceived obsolescence is a constructed idea that your perfectly working product has expired. This affect is achieved by marketing new products that undermine previous generations of the products.
Obsolescence is a business model that has been around for many years. It began with lightbulbs that were intentionally limited to running for only 1000 hours. Manufacturers realised they could sell more lightbulbs if their runtime was less. Also womens stockings used to be able to tow a car, but now they’re riddled with holes. It’s all because they were designed to expire, to make more money. It has never been about making the best product. It is about creating a product that will make the most money.
These days the concept of obsolescence has taken the step further into perceived obsolescence. Where manufacturers tell you your product isn’t suitable for you anymore before it has even expired.
This is a fantastic alternative to throwaway plastic cutlery.
Don Norman, designer and author of The Design of Everyday Things describes in great depth, 3 fundamental aspects for good design of a product. His three principles are studied across the world. He literally wrote the book on Design.
Visceral
The Visual appeal of a product.
Behavioural
The product in use (does it perform it’s functions properly)
Reflective
“What will my friends think when they see me wearing this watch?
Sustainable
Does this have a positive effect on the world? Is the world a better place because of it?
https://www.sulapac.com/products/#portfolio
Sustainable packaging products made from wood.
“Sustainable by design”
I began my conversation with Tim by trying to explain my idea. Collaborative Consumption… What about it? I struggled explaining it.
I tried to back up my definition with examples of Uber, Onzo, Lime, Netflix, ect. This made it clearer but only because he knew what they were.
Tim said I need a definition like the following, “The sharing economy, also known as the access economy, peer-to-peer economy, or collaborative economy is a mode of consumption whereby goods and services are not owned by a single user, but rather only temporarily accessed by members of a network and under-utilised assets are shared, either for free or for a fee.”
He gave me a really interesting statement he created for his sustainable fashion brand Starfish.
Pay more, buy better, buy less.
Tim Parkin
He suggested that I look less into the huge problem of hyper-consumption and find circumstances where design has fixed other huge problems and reapply the lessons learned to attacking hyper-consumption.
It is important to realise that I will not solve the problem. I am merely contributing to the field. Which means I have to pick a small aspect of where I want to go.
James's Major Project 