IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jchals/v4y2013i1p19-33d24284.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Integrating Emotional Attachment and Sustainability in Electronic Product Design

Author

Listed:
  • Alex Lobos

    (Department of Industrial Design, Rochester Institute of Technology, 73 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, NY 14623, USA)

  • Callie W. Babbitt

    (Golisano Institute for Sustainability, Rochester Institute of Technology, 81-2173, 111 Lomb Memorial Dr., Rochester, NY 14623, USA)

Abstract

Current models for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) products encourage frequent product replacement with newer versions that offer only minor incremental improvements. This pattern, named planned obsolescence, diminishes user experience and shortens product lifespan. This paper presents the conceptual basis for a two-part integrated approach to combating planned obsolescence in ICT devices. First, design for emotional attachment, which creates products that users enjoy, value, and use for longer. Second, technological adaptability, which anticipates product upgrades and repairs as new technologies emerge. A model interdisciplinary design course in industrial design and sustainability, also described herein, trains students to apply this approach to create innovative ICT products with smaller environmental footprints.

Suggested Citation

  • Alex Lobos & Callie W. Babbitt, 2013. "Integrating Emotional Attachment and Sustainability in Electronic Product Design," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 4(1), pages 1-15, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jchals:v:4:y:2013:i:1:p:19-33:d:24284
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2078-1547/4/1/19/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2078-1547/4/1/19/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jianfeng Wu & Chuchu Jin & Lekai Zhang & Li Zhang & Ming Li & Xuan Dong, 2021. "Emotionally Sustainable Design Toolbox: A Card-Based Design Tool for Designing Products with an Extended Life Based on the User’s Emotional Needs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-19, September.
    2. Danilov, Yury A. (Данилов, Юрий) & Dustova, E.A. (Дустова, Е.), 2016. "Monitoring of the Global Competitiveness of the Russian Financial Market and Analysis of Measures for Its Improvement [Мониторинг Глобальной Конкурентоспособности Финансового Рынка Российской Федер," Working Papers 1664, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration.
    3. Mona Komeijani & Erinn G. Ryen & Callie W. Babbitt, 2016. "Bridging the Gap between Eco-Design and the Human Thinking System," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 7(1), pages 1-16, March.
    4. Jian Wang & Yen Hsu, 2019. "Does Sustainable Perceived Value Play a Key Role in the Purchase Intention Driven by Product Aesthetics? Taking Smartwatch as an Example," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-24, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jchals:v:4:y:2013:i:1:p:19-33:d:24284. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.