Battered but beautiful
Having to engage the notch-of-shame on my trouser belt tells me that the indulgences of the festive season have taken their toll. As I ponder the potential remedies to my personal culinary excesses, I am reminded that overconsumption was the very subject I highlighted in my last article on sustainability.
Alongside the obligatory novelty socks and bottle of wine, my favourite present by far this year was a humble replacement cap for the 27-year-old Sigg water bottle that has accompanied me on many experiences to the highest peak and deepest cave over that time. I was devastated when I mislaid the original cap earlier in the year and had to use a pristine but characterless substitute bottle. The memories represented by the dents, scratches and flaking lacquer from my faithful Sigg bottle tell a story that cannot be fully appreciated by anyone else but me. For me it gains more beauty from the ongoing imperfections acquired through use, a sentiment that is perfectly captured by the Japanese term Wabi-sabi.
I saw plenty of brightly coloured reusable coffee cups (undoubtedly Christmas presents) being toted by fellow walkers as I tried to offset this seasons calorie consumption with a bit of outdoor physical exertion. As I drank the much needed calorie-free liquid refreshment from my rejuvenated bottle, I hoped that through prolonged use they would also come to cherish these simple and humble artefacts. Relying on guilt to encourage us to keep products and packaging out of landfill might not be enough to motivate us to change our consumption habits. Recognising that we can actually become emotionally attached to these more mundane objects through long term use might just encourage us to reconsider whether it is essential to replace them simply because they look tired.
Patagonia's Worn Wear is a great example where extending the life of their garments can arguably make them 'Better than new'! Also check out Dan Jenkins article on Designing Products That Stand the Test of Time
Product & Design @ Apian // Interactive prototyping @ Interaction Magic
6 年On point as usual Dai - and also front page news today!?https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46797396
Founder and maker at Bic Made
6 年At the end of 2018 over half of the projects we were undertaking at Brown&co involved some aspect of 're-use' and the exploration of the circular economy and how this might effect fmcg brands (and consumer product design) in the future. It's one of the most exciting and disruptive changes in the attitudes of companies I've witnessed and something that most product designers I've worked with have been promoting for many, many years. It appears that it takes a combination of public pressure, environmental catastrophe and, perhaps, a more enlightened younger generation willing to adopt new habits to fuel this change but I'm delighted it's happening.?
not a guru on anything- I don't know it all - Honest - Trustworthy
6 年Could not agree more, the old proverv's Less is more and 3R (reduce, reuse, recycle) are more relevant than ever. The dilema for all of us working in product driven companies is how to balance drive for consumption (aka More sales & profit) with the moral and common sense question of when consumption turns into overconsumption! So far, it seems only Patagonia has got it right from my POV.