Escape From the Tyranny of Things: An Argument for Heirloom Consumption (or Keeping Stuff for a Very Long Time)
Several months ago, I was asked by a journalist to comment on the excessive consumption of technology by designers. She wanted to know if there ought to be rules dictating how long a person should be required to keep electronics and computer equipment. It occurred to me then that even though Americans consider themselves to be fiercely independent, most of us love to be told what to do. It’s easy to think that we are one certification or set of regulations away from reversing the negative impact that humans are having on the environment. The reality is both more complicated and nuanced. If a designer needs new equipment to complete a motion graphics piece about the destruction of natural habitat, and the piece results in large tracts of land being set aside for sustainable agriculture, then who would argue that the replacement of the computer hardware was unwarranted? The right balance of consumption and use of resources is more the stuff of personal responsibility and individual circumstance than it is appropriate fodder for regulatory authorities. That being said, there is no doubt that those of us residing in the developed world are consuming more than our fair share of resources, largely at the cost of those living in the developing world. The question remains, what to do about it?