Products That Last

Products that Last starts where most books on product development end. This new edition (first self-published by the TU Delft) contains new examples and insights from recent publications. From the perspective of designers and entrepreneurs, once a product has been designed, produced and sold, it disappears beyond the newness horizon. They are little aware of the opportunities that exist in the next product universe, where money is made from products in use, as well as from a product’s afterlife. These opportunities clearly exist, otherwise they would not be providing an income for so many people. However, to be recognized as segments of a circle of continuous value creation, they need reframing.

The book offers readers an innovative and practical methodology to unravel a product’s afterlife and systematically evaluate it for new opportunities. It introduces business models that enable us to benefit from the opportunities offered by a much longer product life. Products that Last changes the way designers and entrepreneurs develop and exploit goods, helping reduce material and energy consumption over time. Nothing more, nothing less.

Also available in Dutch.

Authors

Conny Bakker is full professor of Design Methodology for Sustainability and Circular Economy at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, in the faculty of Industrial Design Engineering. Her research field is the development of design methods for products that have multiple lifecycles. She explores strategies such as product lifetime extension, reuse, remanufacturing and recycling, and the business models that enable these strategies. A second research interest is the field of user centred sustainable design, which focuses on exploring the relationships between consumer behaviour, sustainability and design. Conny co-leads the European H2020 project ReCiPSS, that helps designers and manufacturers understand how collection, remanufacturing and reuse of products can lead to more profitable, resource-efficient and resilient business practices. She coordinates and teaches several (Bachelor, Master and post-Master) courses in Sustainable Design and Design for the Circular Economy, including a popular MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) which has attracted over 20,000 learners so far.

Marcel den Hollander
As one of the first industrial designers with a Ph.D. in circular product design, Marcel den Hollander works as an independent researcher and industrial design consultant to industry in circular product design and business models for the circular economy. His academic work is anchored in over twenty years of hands-on experience in commercial industrial design for (inter)nationally renowned design studios and clients, designing fast moving consumer goods, such as (food)packaging, durable consumer goods, such as electronics, (office)furniture, and professional products, such as retail in- and exteriors, museum showcases, means of transport, industrial equipment and logistic systems.To pro-actively disseminate the results of his research, Marcel continues to give guest lectures at design and business schools in the Netherlands and present his research at international conferences.

Press

"This book offers readers an innovative, practical methodology for unraveling the lifeline of a product and systematically checking for new opportunities." – Duurzaam-ondernemen.nl

"Products That Last helps to define the chances of a circular economy and to develop solutions for this new reality." – Utrecht Business Magazine