Video Response: The Secret Life of Things

This video really captured the essence of most modern consumer products, and how they have been ‘poorly designed’ so as to become obsolete and useless. The video uses an animated approach to emphasise the idea of the importance of sustainability and the growing number of consumer products that become outdated after initial use. The video uses an example of a mobile telephone manufactured by Ericson. After 1 year of its purchase and use, the phone begins to feel withdrawal as it comes to terms of its obsolescence, as it has been replaced by a more moderns mobile, with added features such as a new sleek design and camera. It was interesting to gain an insight into the different materials a phones components can be made form, as well as their geographic location. It is puzzling that all the minerals have to be first extracted then shipped off to another country for the creation and assembly of the phone, which I guess in its truest sense, is the definition of globalisation. But most importantly the video really highlights the extremely short life span of products, especially mobile phones. In this fast paced modern world, we all strive to have the better technology, for ease of use and to help promote our social status. These are the main reasons that technology such as phones have a very short life span, and of not designed to become sustainable or reused, can be detrimental to the environment. The phones can end up in landfill, which can hurt the environment as the phone slowly degrades; however the phone can also be locked away in a drawer, never to be used again, just forgotten about and unseen. The video does show however, the more responsible ways of combating the planed obsolescence of the mobile phone, by suggesting alternative design options during the manufacturing and production stages. The ‘doctor’ suggests that the manufacturers should have looked into the process of ‘design for disassembly’ which enables reusable components and materials to be recovered with ease. Another alternative given was the option to be upgraded over time, so as to have up-to-date software, similar to that of today’s iPods. The final alternative given was to design for longevity, such as having materials that are of a higher quality and last longer, are compatible to be upgraded in the future and that have no planned obsolesce. All in all this video helped give a better understanding of what choices I have to make as a designer. It really accentuates the product life cycle, from gathering the minerals for materials all the way to its use once it is no longer needed.