Design Strategies to Postpone Consumers' Product Replacement: The Value of a Strong Person-Product Relationship

Abstract

From an environmental perspective, the early replacement of durables is generally detrimental. This article examines ‘ensuring a strong person-product relationship’ as a design strategy to postpone product replacement. If a person experiences a strong relationship with his/her product, this can result in more protective behaviours towards this product and in product longevity. A crucial precondition for a long-lasting relationship is that consumers feel the product is irreplaceable. Such a condition is obtained only when a product's meaning is deeply anchored in a specific product and the product and its meaning are inseparable. Designers can encourage the product's irreplaceability by stimulating the formation of memories associated with a product or by creating unique and personal products. Several examples of design strategies are discussed.