“Why Are Consumer Products Not Built to Last Anymore?”
Posted on 25 Aug, 2026
Do you recall when purchasing a washing machine, television, kettle or even a pair of shoes was an investment and not a temporary purchase?
Many household products used to be made to be repaired, maintained and used for years. Nowadays, products can sometimes appear to be designed for a much shorter lifespan. A phone slows down, a washing machine breaks down, a kitchen appliance stops working and suddenly the cost of repair is so close to the price of replacement that buying something new seems the only sensible option.
But how has this happened?Is it just that today's products are poorly made? Or is there something much larger afoot behind our disposable ... Continue reading >
Posted in: Careers in Design