Does planned obsolescence of products affect people’s happiness? Does having a long-term relationship with things improve our wellbeing? This study positions itself in the Life Cycle Design literature, addressing the human environmental footprint, from the Psychological point of view. Focusing on electronic goods, particularly smartphones, as a case study, it investigates whether longer lasting emotions towards objects, can improve the psychological well-being of people. In doing so, it supports those Circular Economy strategies and Business models, aimed at slowing down the frantic loop of production and consumption of material goods. This chapter presents the main principles of Emotionally Durable Design theory by relating it to Positive Psychology – a discipline focused on the pursuit of well-being. It seeks to synthesise a broader, empirical study based on a sample of about 1.300 young people, mostly belonging to the Z generation.The chapter briefly shows the original methodology designed for this study, previews the huge amount of data, and provides just the main results – the interpretation of which deserves to be deepened during future years of study.

Delaying Obsolescence in Digital Products. Interdisciplinary Research through Emotionally Durable Design and Well-Being in the Z Generation

MARIO de LIGUORI
2020-01-01

Abstract

Does planned obsolescence of products affect people’s happiness? Does having a long-term relationship with things improve our wellbeing? This study positions itself in the Life Cycle Design literature, addressing the human environmental footprint, from the Psychological point of view. Focusing on electronic goods, particularly smartphones, as a case study, it investigates whether longer lasting emotions towards objects, can improve the psychological well-being of people. In doing so, it supports those Circular Economy strategies and Business models, aimed at slowing down the frantic loop of production and consumption of material goods. This chapter presents the main principles of Emotionally Durable Design theory by relating it to Positive Psychology – a discipline focused on the pursuit of well-being. It seeks to synthesise a broader, empirical study based on a sample of about 1.300 young people, mostly belonging to the Z generation.The chapter briefly shows the original methodology designed for this study, previews the huge amount of data, and provides just the main results – the interpretation of which deserves to be deepened during future years of study.
2020
Design Research in the Digital Era. Opportunities and Implications. Notes on Doctoral Research in Design 2020
9788835100317
Product Durability; Wellbeing; Emotionally Durable Design; Positive Psychology; Smartphones; Life Cycle Design; Obsolescence; Digital Products
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11311/1130241
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