| This paper advances new proposals to address the Planned & Perceived Obsolescence conundrum. Coming from a Net Energy Economy perspective and founded in natures resilience and regeneration principles it integrates these perspectives into the Product Design process. The goal is to build societies that move beyond heavy dependence on fossil fuel and finite materials throughput to maintain economic stability into a culture that enjoys the relative conveniences of western living without the ecological impacts. Proposed in these strategies are ways to build ecological resilience and economic liberation into our culture provided by proper investment of energy and resources into Products, Buildings, Businesses and Agriculture to provide for our basic needs freeing us from constant insecurities. It offers a simple step by step design guide with foundational strategies at each step in the lifespan of the product. It addresses issues like appropriate strategies for different clients, durable vs. consumable, finite vs. renewable, sustainable qualities of products, proper investment to create long lasting products, scaled resilience and global leverage of technology for the greatest impact with least ecological footprint. These are foundational strategies to leverage the greatest ecological change for the least amount of effort. It was tested with 4th year ID students and results are included. |
