Quilt by Harriet Powers, circa 1895

In If Products Could Speak… we’re starting to develop concepts for sustainable product designs. Right now we’re working out the goals of our projects. I’m developing a proposal for a for-profit social venture that has two main goals: it aims to decrease waste by providing affordable access to heirloom-quality items, and it aims to provide means for economic independence to women living in poverty in the United States. The financial goal of the project is to support its social and environmental mission through the sale and repair of durable goods.

Inspiration for this project comes from a variety of sources including, Christien Meindertsma’s FLOCKS, NetGranny, Ray & Charles Eames’ wonderful slide presentation and movie, “Goods,” and Saul Griffith’s recent discussions of heirloom electronics.

These influences  have led me to investigate what exactly we mean when we call something an heirloom–  Does it have to be something that has been passed down through generations, accruing sentimental value along the way? How can we create objects that have the durability and emotional resonance of heirlooms in the face of a very fickle consumer culture? While people value the durability of heirlooms, they often feel burdened by the thought of keeping that same object for a long time. Some of the most valued heirlooms are those that allow their owners to alter or contribute to them in some way. Treasured heirlooms are often transparent in the display of their production stories (i.e. a bench may be clearly hand carved, a teapot may have a stamp or signature on the bottom, a quilt may have stitches in different types of thread because of multiple repairs).

My hope is that by building the story of production and/or repair into affordable and durable objects, I can augment their value enough to make them desirable to people who might normally be tempted to buy something more disposable.

Sources

Hall, C. An heirloom menagerie of memories. The Christian Science Monitor. Boston, Mass.:Oct 21, 2008. p. 18.

Quintanilla, M. The Fabric of Their Lives. Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, Calif.:Aug 18, 2000. p. 1.

Wadler, J. The Tyranny of the Heirloom. New York Times. New York, N.Y.:Jun 26, 2008. p. F.1.