Project on development of design of durable products aims to find business models and design strategies that help to extend the life of the product

Lifetime of consumer goods – this is the time from the purchase of the product by a person to the end of use. Today there is the tendency of a significant reduction in the service life of products. However, many products still function normally even after they have been thrown away or hidden in the mezzanine. At the same time, there is rapid rise in prices for raw materials and energy resources over the past decades. The upward trend in global demand for raw materials and energy will continue, creating the main risks for modern business and production … However, these risks can be turned into new opportunities for manufacturers, which is what the project for the development of durable products is dedicated to.

Environmental design issues

Sustainable development Is a complex of social, economic and environmental changes that are aimed at ensuring a high quality of life modern generation and a guarantee of the same level for future generations.

Target project – association of companies and organizations who want to be leaders in sustainable development and circular economy The task the project is search for business models and strategies for creating benefits for companies and consumers in a circular economy … This problem can be solved by launching the production of durable products and minimizing resource consumption … One of these companies is the Dutch concern Philips. Their EcoVision program is the main driving force behind to preserve the environment through innovation.

Circular economy Is a type of industrial economy that is aimed at minimization of waste production at the expense of integrating rational approaches in industrial design

Industrial design: creating and producing a product with a long service life

Круговая экономика для создания долговечных изделий

Despite the increased focus on material recycling worldwide, extending product life means more than just recycling … This idea should make itself felt throughout the entire life cycle of the product and effectively slow down the rate of movement of the product towards recycling … In such a situation, the long service life of the products creates new opportunities for production and sales due to the emergence of additional services. Already today, many companies have proven that the service of repairing and replacing parts of the product is more profitable than traditional sales.

Since the Industrial Revolution, the linear Western economy has been dominated by a “sell more, sell faster” business model. Such a model does not fit into the framework of a modern project to extend the life of the product. The success of the circular economy depends on new business models that will focus on investments in product life extension. A study of companies that are successfully promoting this project helped narrow down the number of effective business models to 5 distinct types.

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Sustainable Product Design: Modern Business Models

Exists five basic models one of which should be chosen by entrepreneurs and industrial designers at the stage of product development and design. All of them are based on sustainable development and ecological product design.

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1. Classic model: modern materials in design

The main profit comes from the production and sale of high quality products with a long service life. For example, in the production of your next washing machine, you can use the most corrosion-resistant metals. The use of high-quality raw materials will entail an increase in the cost of the product, but will also extend the service life.

2. Hybrid model

Combination production of durable quality products along with the sale of short-lived consumables from which the main income comes.

3. Discontinuity model

This model builds on use of the residual value of the product. Income stream – from the sale of products or parts thereof that have a mixed life cycle. For example, a printer cartridge is more durable than the ink it uses. Today, most companies offer to buy new cartridges, but in a circular economy, it is more expedient to provide a service for refilling the cartridge.

Sustainable development

4. Access model

Providing the ability to rent a product instead of the right to own it … The main income comes from receiving rent. For example, the Dutch company GreenWheels provides used cars.

5. Performance model

Basic income from charges for improving product performance , and not for the product itself. For example, for a small amount, a customer can purchase a product with a basic set of functions. When a product does not meet the needs of a person, he can simply “upgrade” it, and not buy a new version. Tesla Motors produces software that improves the performance of the car even without buying new parts.

Industrial design studio KLONA (Kiev) specializes in the design of durable products. We will design any product taking into account the specifics of your production or we will help to launch a new one … For more detailed information contact our managers: +38 (044) 223 51 20.

Fighting Obsolescence: Addressing Design Environmental Issues

The approach to creating durable products is also aims to maintain its relevance. This means keeping the original condition of the product for as long as possible. At the center of this – combating the reasons why the product quickly becomes obsolete. This is the main environmental problem of design.

Streamlining the results of existing research and conducting new analyzes of companies and their long-lived products has led to the formation of six industrial design strategies that can be used to prevent or delay obsolescence of products

Moral obsolescence of things

1. Designing products that inspire customer loyalty and trust

A significant problem of modern industrial design is the production of products that wear out in a short time. This stimulates the further purchase of more and more new goods and more and more rapid wear of subsequent ones. Creating products that consumers love, will not lead to the rapid appearance of the effect of obsolescence of the thing.

2. The design of things should be aimed at creating durable products

Functional wear and tear can be avoided by designing things that wear out slowly. This will help design taking into account the peculiarities of the use of the product, the use of more resistant materials in production, as well as special coatings that prevent wear on the product.

3. Design of industrial products with regard to product compatibility

System wear can be prevented by creating devices that make up match each other or other products … This will help standardization in the field of industrial design. For example, creating phones with the same connector for recharging the battery.

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4. Industrial design taking into account the simplicity of functionality and product repair

Manufacturers must leave the ability to repair the product and keep it in good working order for a long time. At the same time, companies can independently organize their certified service centers and profit from this.

5. Creation of modernizable and adaptable products

Possibility expanding the functionality and adaptations of the product to existing devices also reduces the level of obsolescence.

6. Industrial design of convertible products

Possibility easy to assemble and disassemble the product and also modify make it more durable.

Long service life of products

Modern industrial designers develop new ways to increase consumer confidence in products and reduce obsolescence … These six design strategies are applicable to any business model, and the benefits of their interaction will vary according to the situation in which they are applied. It should be borne in mind that each combination has its own mechanism for obtaining benefits from long-lived products and different sets of critical success factors.

The modern design of industrial products should be aimed at support for early adaptation of at least one of the six design strategies to extend the life of products. At the same time, it is necessary promote the development of long-term relationships between end users and suppliers , as well as to ensure a high level of quality of services provided.

Today in the world there are large companies producing technology and electronics push the design of industrial products towards supporting sustainable development … This guarantees a high quality of life for both modern and future generations. In such conditions, traditional approaches to the production of rapidly aging and wearing out products are losing their relevance.

Be modern and integrate projects to create durable products into your production now … In the KLONA company you can order an industrial design (Kiev) of a high-quality product, taking into account any considered model or strategy.