1 / 10

Planned Obsolescence: Aesthetic over Functional

Planned Obsolescence: Aesthetic over Functional. The Emergence, Effects and Ethics. Jonathan French BSc Product Design, School of Design, Engineering and Computing, Bournemouth University. Contents. Introduction Aims and Objectives Emergence of Aesthetic Obsolescence

lois
Download Presentation

Planned Obsolescence: Aesthetic over Functional

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Planned Obsolescence: Aesthetic over Functional The Emergence, Effects and Ethics Jonathan French BSc Product Design, School of Design, Engineering and Computing, Bournemouth University EPSRC - NETWORK ON PRODUCT LIFE SPANS - DESIGN FOR DURABILITY - DESIGN COUNCIL APRIL 11TH 2006

  2. Contents • Introduction • Aims and Objectives • Emergence of Aesthetic Obsolescence • Effects: The Disposable Society • Case Study: The Mobile Phone • Ethics: Sustainable Issues • Conclusions EPSRC - NETWORK ON PRODUCT LIFE SPANS - DESIGN FOR DURABILITY - DESIGN COUNCIL APRIL 11TH 2006

  3. What is Planned Obsolescence? • Product obsolete in defined time frame • Technical, functional and aesthetic • Aesthetic - concerned with visual form • Alteration of superficial characteristics of a product to create a new model • Previous undesirable, rendering it obsolete • Cycle of fashion aided by marketing • Still performs primary function EPSRC - NETWORK ON PRODUCT LIFE SPANS - DESIGN FOR DURABILITY - DESIGN COUNCIL APRIL 11TH 2006

  4. Aims and Objectives • Highlight and further defineaesthetic element to planned obsolescence • Put into context by investigating its emergence and effects in 20th Century • Case Study - illustrate modern exploitation of aesthetic obsolescence • Find an ethically sound route for aesthetic obsolescence • Right direction for sustainable products EPSRC - NETWORK ON PRODUCT LIFE SPANS - DESIGN FOR DURABILITY - DESIGN COUNCIL APRIL 11TH 2006

  5. Concept born out of The Depression, “Streamlining”, and Industrial Design • 1930s “Streamlining” in cars • Inspiration aerodynamic form • Redesign of external form - make more successful • Yearly style advances - marketing weapon • Visual Image compared more than function • Rejection – Citroen 2CV and VW Beetle The Emergence: Aesthetic Obsolescence EPSRC - NETWORK ON PRODUCT LIFE SPANS - DESIGN FOR DURABILITY - DESIGN COUNCIL APRIL 11TH 2006

  6. The Effects: The Disposable Society • Destruction and replacement of products became pleasurable and social act • Advertising and marketing – sparked mass-commercialism in 1950s • New model - “as new oneself” • Rising economic prosperity • Consumer backlash - function over aesthetic • More durable products EPSRC - NETWORK ON PRODUCT LIFE SPANS - DESIGN FOR DURABILITY - DESIGN COUNCIL APRIL 11TH 2006

  7. Highly competitive - 1 billion sales by 2009 • Re-styling - similar to “Streamlining” • Guarantee repeat sales Case Study - Mobile Phones • Nokia - 1920s Art Deco Style • “Fashion range” - aesthetic over function • Snap fit covers - customisation - extended product life • Current - non-customisable - regain control • Vodafone - Vending machines • Monthly model change - latest style • Delivery - similar to soft drinks and confectionery • Exaggerated form of obsolescence EPSRC - NETWORK ON PRODUCT LIFE SPANS - DESIGN FOR DURABILITY - DESIGN COUNCIL APRIL 11TH 2006

  8. Aesthetic Obsolescence - Critical level • Environmental Impact • Obsolescence = Waste • Solution = Affordable + Attractive + Sustainable • Materials - bio, recyclable • Processing - energy efficient - renewable energy • Brands + media - educate consumer Ethics: Sustainable Issues EPSRC - NETWORK ON PRODUCT LIFE SPANS - DESIGN FOR DURABILITY - DESIGN COUNCIL APRIL 11TH 2006

  9. Conclusions • Aesthetic Obsolescence – over consumption + commitment to fashion • Highly competitive product fields • Marketing – brands make public aware • Trends + attitudes - mustaddress sustainability • Always demand for changing style • Solution - style changes + sustainability EPSRC - NETWORK ON PRODUCT LIFE SPANS - DESIGN FOR DURABILITY - DESIGN COUNCIL APRIL 11TH 2006

  10. End of Presentation EPSRC - NETWORK ON PRODUCT LIFE SPANS - DESIGN FOR DURABILITY - DESIGN COUNCIL APRIL 11TH 2006

More Related