That New Smell.

The belief that design is going to die out to recycling and “hacking” items seems a little far-fetched. It is true that there is a strong market for used goods, but they always sell for markedly less than the new- novelty itself must have a value.

Once the seal is broken on an item and that new smell goes, part of its worth goes with it. People crave the latest models and brands. Evidence of which can be seen with the laziness of some car manufacturers, repackaging the same car over and over with minor upgrades to make older ones redundant and increase revenue. Additionally the novelty augments the user -

“The major appeal of buying a shiny new and more powerful car every couple of years is that it gives him (the buyer) a renewed sense of power and reassures him of his masculinity" (The Hidden Persuaders, Vance Packard, 1957, p71)

However the guilt of wasting apparently dwindling resources has been somewhat passed onto consumers rather than the designers. As a result we live in a world weary of throwing things away, constantly reminded to recycle rather than simply bin things, possibly pushing value into useless items.

Designers need to look up from their studio desks and stand back to see what they are making in relation to the current world. This doesn’t mean releasing tat that is supposedly environmentally friendly, but in reality is using recycled materials for the sake of a fad.

The onus of responsibility doesn't just fall to the user, but the creator. A design must be thought through from its raw materials, through its use, to its disposal. Is there really a need for the product, or are they just filling holes in the market that aren’t really there? Can it be made with recycled materials, and can this material be minimised? This kind of reflection would hopefully create better-rounded products, that create less of a damaging environmental impact.

Edit: The photo's mine.