Maintainable Designed for Life products are thoughtfully engineered from the outset with standardized parts and replaceable components that extend the lifespan of the overall product. CORE TENET #3 Adaptable A DFL product is designed with interchangeable, adaptable, or modular components that enable the user to change the way they can utilize it and designers to add functionality later, extending a product’s lifespan. CORE TENET #4 End-of-life-able When it comes time to finally say goodbye, components should be biodegradable, however the landfill is the last place it should end up – because it was designed with an end-of-life plan in mind. CORE TENET #6 Sustainable Thoughtful design leads to thoughtful consumption. The DFL vision compels designers and manufacturers to set high standards for both the lifecycle of the product and the way the company operates. CORE TENET #3 Durable Selling something is a promise. A Designed for Life product aims to last for the lifetime of the consumer – and a guarantee to that effect puts the onus on the organization to ensure their design lives up to this high standard. CORE TENET #2 Loveable If you don’t love it, you won’t keep it. Viscerally pleasing design is a hallmark of the Designed for Life approach. Fads, trends, or limited editions are incorporated in transient and changeable elements only, shaping a core product line that is reliable, endearing, and timeless. CORE TENET #1

We enable mankind to consume less by inspiring companies to design better.

May 30
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Upcyling: Cool New Products Made From Reused Materials

By | Sustainability | One Comment

With consumers becoming more conscious of eco-friendly products and production, more companies are offering goods that have been upcycled—made from byproducts or unwanted materials that have been creatively reused. A phrase coined by William McDonough in one of my favorite books aptly titled, “The Upcycle,” Upcycling is a great way to practice sustainability, and in some cases, it even results in better supply-chain methods. From home furnishings to clothing and jewelry to the upholstery on car seats, upcycled products are available in a wide range of markets, and knowing about them can help you become a smarter consumer. Here are…

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Mar 08
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Lighting has come a long way: Plumen low-energy light bulbs.

LED Luminaries: New and Improved Energy-Efficient Lighting

By | DFL Philosophy, Sustainability | 2 Comments

When energy-saving lighting first hit the market, many of them were less than luminary in terms of style and cost-not to mention that ghastly glow. But awareness around efficiency has spread, even at the mass level: In 2012, the Montreal hockey arena, Bell Centre, replaced its old bulbs with 140 LEDs. The same year, New York City’s Central Park completed a massive installation of 1,600 LEDs. Companies have developed better energy-efficient alternatives for the home, too. The British company Plumen, for example, offers high-design, low-energy light bulbs, pendants, chandeliers, and shades at affordable prices. (They ship to the U.S. with…

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