The Relationship Between User and Product: Durable Design Through Personalisation

Abstract

There is an increased focus on emotional design in order to build more sustainable attitudes towards the design of products. According to Dieter Rams, a German industrial designer known for the timeless quality in his products, 'Good design is honest'. An introduction in emotional design into a university-level curriculum is essential in order to increase the students' understanding of its advantages in designing sustainable products. Being aware of the life of the product after production can help create durable design. In this article, the relationship between people and products is analysed to explore how emotions play a role in how a product is perceived. The research question is how to create a relationship between user and product, where emotions play an important role in how the user perceived the product through personalisation. The study provides a deeper understanding of how to achieve a meaningful relationship to a product. The interviewing of users revealed how their experiences had an impact on their perception of the product. The study showed how the relationship between the product and the user can be used as a learning process to create a friendly attitude towards sustainable design. This paper contributes to the discussion of how individuals have a relationship to their assets, and how this affects their attitude towards durable design.