Product attachment and replacement: implications for sustainable design

Abstract

This research investigated a number of main areas of attachment in order to determine how consumer-product relationships are formed and to identify whether these feelings influence replacement decisions. Primary research comprised of interviews with consumers to discuss the topic area in relation to three possessions selected for their attachment qualities. The research highlighted how attachment is determined by multiple themes, many of which are circumstantial to consumers' experiences and therefore difficult for designers to control. Findings showed that memories were the most prominent theme of participants' attachment, closely followed by pleasure and usability. Enjoyment and pleasure were found to be the primary reason for attachment to newly purchased items, whereas nostalgia was highest for older possessions. Appearance and reliability were found to have considerable influence on participants' attitudes towards replacement.

Product Design in a Circular Economy: Development of a Typology of Key Concepts and Terms

“…The opposite is true for emotional durability, where far less research has been undertaken. Page () presents a review of the literature on how consumer‐product relationships are formed and whether feelings of attachment influence replacement decisions. Page's research makes clear that the field of product attachment is still under development, with different schools of thought that touch or overlap to a greater or lesser extent, but do not share a common structure or framework.…”

Transitioning into a ‘throwaway planet’

“…Manufacturers could be compelled to design their products so that the products would be more repairable (Cooper, ; Page, ). Yet, this is difficult to legislate as firms might see this regulation as an unnecessary burden which reduces profits.…”

“…Also of importance in the consumers decision to repair or replace a product is the ease and convenience of a repair (Page, ). This suggests that the opportunity cost of time plays a significant role in determining which consumers will elect to replace or repair a product.…”

“…For instance, a product could fall into technical obsolescence (Cooper, ; Purohit, ; Waldman, ) or fashion obsolescence (Burns, ). Page (: p. 366) states, ‘increasing the ownership time of durable products has been highlighted as a concept that may help in creating an environmentally friendly future.’ However, he finds that products that have sentimental value, pleasurable to use, or have high functionality are products that are more likely to be repaired than discarded. He reports that consumers who find a product easy to repair felt that the product would be able to last a long time.…”

A Content Analysis on Quality for CAD Based Product Design: Developing a Framework for Malaysian Technical Teacher Training Institute

“…Research related to product design based on CAD, innovative product, and design quality (28.9%) are still in the nascent stage. Many studies have been focused on product design (Page, 2014) and design process (Singhry, Abd Rahman, & Imm, 2016).…”