Design for Emotional Durability: Investigating the Relationship between Emotions and Product Longevity in Industrial Design

Abstract

The focus of this thesis is the investigation of the connection between product emotion and durability in industrial design, as well as how emotions can affect product attachment and durability, and proposing a framework for integrating emotional durability into the product development process. This study investigates the definitions of symbolic meanings, aesthetic emotions and other related factors that play a key role in product longevity, introducing a design tool related to emotional durability to design projects. The research findings imply that designing for emotional durability necessitates a deeper comprehension of how products can act as archives of symbols, identities, and values that are effectively communicated through form, materiality, and function. With the help of this new methodology, it is possible to design products that are not only useful, beautiful and emotionally appealing but also meaningful and long-lasting.