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Decades before the first personal computer hit the shelves, American industrial designer Brooks Stevens popularized the phrase planned obsolescencedefining it as instilling in the buyer the desire to own something a little newer, a little better, a little sooner than is necessaryushering in an epoch of products made to be disposable.The rise of planned obsolescenceBefore the 1920swhen lightbulb and automotive manufacturers began intentionally shortening product lifespans to sell more inventory in the face of highly saturated marketscraftspeople built products to last, and repair culture was a way of life. The shift toward designing for disposability marked a cultural and economic transformation, turning durable products into replaceable commodities. While manufacturers were limiting product longevity, brands used design and marketing to position products as symbols of status and stylefavoring novelty, prioritizing convenience over lasting value, and encouraging frequent upgrades to keep up with the Joneses. Products became less about enduring utility and more about staying current with ever-changing trends.In the intervening century, planned obsolescence became common practicefrom fast fashions fleeting trends and never-ending product releases to techs closed ecosystems and walled gardensplaying naturally into our desire for status and novelty. While this approach worked for the last 100 years, the climate crisis, resource wars, and a growing desire for personalized products all signal that we are overdue for a new product development model that prioritizes repairability and adaptability to meet the needs of both people and the planet.The path forwardModular design offers an alternative to disposable products by addressing two critical demands of modern consumers: personalization and sustainability. Developing modular systems can enable tech to adapt to individual needs and evolve alongside its owner by empowering users to customize, upgrade, and repair their productsallowing customers to forge meaningful, lasting relationships with their objects while saving money and reducing the amount of e-waste diverted to landfills.Alongside social pressures, global right-to-repair laws, EU eco-design standards, and tax incentives like Swedens repair service discounts are driving the rise in modular design, encouraging repairability, reducing waste, and fostering sustainable, adaptable products for a more circular economy. For brands, these regulations necessitate more thoughtful, durable designs, while consumers gain greater autonomy to repair and extend the life of their products.Modularity in actionMany modern brands have followed the traditional product development path outlined in Stevens definition of planned obsolescence, but emerging and established brands are embracing modularity and including repair as an integral part of the customer experience. In fashion, Patagonia offers its Worn Wear repair service to keep its products out of landfills, and Nike designed its ISPA modular footwear for disassembly and repair with replaceable parts. In consumer electronics, brands like Framework and Gridstack create modular products that grow with users and can be upgraded or customized to meet changing needs. In interiors, brands like Thuma offer products that customers can configure to fit various space and storage needs for a lifetime of modern functionality and optionality. And in the energy sector, products like Teslas Solar Roof offer expandable systems that evolve with changing energy demands.Beyond hardware, digital products are incredibly well-suited to modularity, enabling users to adapt their experiences to their unique needs. Platforms like Squarespace offer modular templates and drag-and-drop design blocks to empower users to build tailored websites quickly. Similarly, Notions modular approach to productivity lets users create personalized workflows, databases, and notes to manage their tasks and goals.However, modular design is not without its challenges. Designing and developing products that can be customized and repaired requires companies to invest more in thoughtful engineering, durable materials, and user education, increasing upfront costs and lead times. Many legacy brands will likely try to maintain the planned obsolescence status quo, but market pressure and resource scarcity will eventually require companies to change. Despite this, modular design has a unique advantage: It enables companies to introduce innovation through upgrades and add-ons without discarding the core product.The vision: Modern heirloomsTo address our role in disposability culture, we need to rethink our relationship with consumerism. For modular design to succeed, it must transform our perspective on productsfrom temporary conveniences to investments in adaptability and longevity. Repairable and customizable products foster emotional attachment by giving users a sense of ownership and responsibility, making them more likely to care for and maintain their items. And when products can adapt to evolving needs, they deepen connections with users and extend their lifespans. Rather than leaving future generations with overflowing landfills and oceans full of microplastics, we must focus on designing products with longevity in mindmodern heirlooms designed to be cherished, cared for, and passed down.Dan Harden is CEO and principal designer at Whipsaw.
