The final episode of the series focuses on objects that are built to last. According to Crawford, this means designing objects that people will cherish as much as it is to do with creating durable products.

“Of course, [building to last] is about longevity and durability, but it must be consequent,” she said in the video. “It’s also about an authentic love for things rather than designing for obsolescence. It’s about designing things we love more.”

According to Crawford, even fragile designs can have longevity.

“‘Built to last’ is often assumed to be about being robust and indestructible,” she said. “But actually the opposite is often true. It is the things that are fragile and beautiful that inspire care and, therefore, they last.”

She gave the paper Akari light, designed in 1951 by Japanese-American artist and designer Isamu Noguchi, as an example.

“There’s something so warm and delicate about the lanterns that still enthrals us,” Crawford said.

“As a studio, we use them in projects a lot – recently we used them in a mental health centre, where typically you’d expect things might need to be a bit more robust.”

“But they bring this amazing warm glow to the space that really takes the edge off the experience, and they’re still there and still perfectly intact.”

he 1958 T3 pocket transistor radio is an example of an object “built to last”

Other objects Crawford discussed in the video include Braun’s T3 transistor radio designed by Dieter Rams in collaboration with the Ulm School of Design in 1953.

The radio is one of a host of Braun products that was informed by a design methodology, developed by Rams while a teacher at the school, that focussed on use.

“It’s stripped-down, it’s as neutral as it’s possible to be,” she said of the design. “It’s uncompromising, reduced to the absolute minimum and its purpose-driven so the only bit that moves is the dial, which makes it super intuitive.”

courtesy – dezeen

https://www.dezeen.com/2021/07/14/braun-good-design-masterclass-ilse-crawford-made-to-last/