Don't forget to make it last

Here is an example of how you should not forget that a product is measured by many things. Making a product look good is very important but the design process is an opportunity to improve things not to push one aspect above all others. Designs that put one consideration above all others will have a short shelf life as trends and fashions change. The design of sustainable products is an admirable ethos but failing sustainability modern day products should at least aim for longevity. If they are ugly they will soon be passed over for the more attractive but likewise if they break they will be discarded. Or in my case they will be mended and take on a function with visible scars on the original beautiful appearance.

So it was interesting to see this presentation from Alex Lee of OXO designs.

Now my point is not that Alex Lee is in any way wrong in what he says but more that what he doesn't say is important too.

Some years ago I found an OXO kettle and immediately loved the design. My wife was delighted as it can takes years before I'm prepared to buy a utensil or product we actually need. In this case I liked the design a lot (and I'm not alone)and so at quite a premium to the other kettles in the shop we bought the OXO Uplift Kettle. In fact I still like it but you might find it's actual performance a little surprising and disappointing. Let me explain.

(Note I mention stainless steel but all the metal in the can openers is chromed steel not stainless)

If you have to throw a product like a kettle away as I'm sure many non engineers would do when it falls to bits and stops working correctly is it good design?

If rusty water drips out of the grips of an can opener is it a good product?

I do not think so. Good products are able to be used and kept for as long as you want to and then they are able to be recycled. The products we see here fall short of this and in ways that are totally avoidable if tested and engineered correctly.

My point is: don't forget the other aspects of a product when you have focused on one because you need to make steps forward and none back when improving a product.

Accelerated product life testing and FMEA analysis are tedious and lets be honest - boring, but without these approaches you open your design to simple avoidable failures.