Design for Durability Exercise

(return to Design for Durability description page)

 

Generate design alternatives to extend your product’s useful life. 

STEP 1: GENERATE DESIGN IDEAS TO EXTEND THE USE PHASE

TIME ESTIMATE: 15-60 MINUTES

 

Review the table given below “Design principles for physical product durability”. In addition to these, also consider the two cultural durability points mentioned:

  • Timeless aesthetics, not fashion-driven
  • Flexible use for changing user needs and scenarios

Brainstorm design alternatives by generating at least 5+ ideas for each topic, 50+ ideas total. If you’re really certain a principle doesn’t apply, you can skip it, but stretch yourself to try to think of applications. Especially push for specific and concrete ideas, but it’s a brainstorm, all wild crazy ideas are okay. Take note of which category of design strategies feels most important for your product, and why.

 

STEP 2: CHOOSE, DEVELOP, & EXPLAIN YOUR TOP IDEA

TIME ESTIMATE: 15-60 MINUTES

 

Choose your favourite design idea from your brainstorm, and develop it more. Sketch any changes in form. If the product looks the same, with just material substitution, write down the new material and what it replaces. Write briefly (5 – 20 words) why you chose this design direction, including what usage changes you expect (if any), and what environmental impact improvements you expect.

 

STEP 3: PLAN TO AVOID UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES & ENCOURAGE INTENDED CONSEQUENCES

TIME ESTIMATE: 10-20 MINUTES

 

Sometimes a design change to make something more durable can end up leading to more environmental impact, if the product is still thrown away early in a disposable culture. Can you think of any risks or unintended consequences from your design change? Is there anything you can do to mitigate these risks to make sure your design change has the desired effects? Consider:

  • Are you asking users to change behaviours?
  • Are you relying on other systems or services during the use phase or end of life?
  • How can you positively drive users to reuse or share? (This can include ideas from the chapters on Behavior Change and Product Service Systems.)

 

BONUS (OPTIONAL): GENERATE DESIGN IDEAS FOR POST-USE (REPAIR, UPGRADE, AND REMANUFACTURING)

TIME ESTIMATE: 30 MINUTES-1.5 HOURS

 

Repeat the steps above, but brainstorming on the Design for Product Lifetime quick reference guide (Figure 4), specifically the lists of design for repair, upgrade, or remanufacturing principles. This generates and develops design ideas for the post-use phase of your product.

 

HOW TO APPLY:

TO SCORE YOUR SUCCESS ON THIS EXERCISE, SEE IF YOU…

 

  1. Generated 5+ ideas for each strategy in the Design for physical product durability table, plus the two cultural durability principles; 50+ ideas total.
  2. Choose a top idea and briefly describe why, with a sketch or brief description of it.
  3. Listed possible unintended consequences from your top idea’s design changes, and strategies to help ensure your design has the intended effects.
  4. (Bonus, optional): Followed a similar process to develop design ideas for the post-use phase of your product’s life (repair, upgrade, or remanufacture).