Annie Leonard: The Story of Stuff

The Story of Stuff is essential viewing for any in the design industry, especially industrial designers. Although simple in its approach, it conveys the important ideas and values of recyclability, renewability, forest regeneration, government intervention and design for prolonged use which we must consider when it is our turn to create a new object and release it into society.

 As Leonard emphasises, gone are the days where products are designed just for pleasure, entertainment or constructive use. We, as designers must delve much deeper to plan out the experience and life which encompasses the product, and how it will be used to its obsolescence. Yes, this may take more time and thought, thought the results that are achieved outweigh all this.

The Story of Stuff provides a short, punchy insight into how the environment, economy and consumers respond to “stuff,” and acts as a great reminder to us all about factors that we become complacent with and tend to forget during our day to day lives. I was amazed at how small a number of toxic chemicals were actually tested before use, and that many of them have not been tested in partnership with one another to see what the reaction would be.

Also, something that was interesting and slightly disturbing was the fact that some pillow brands were using neurotoxins to improve its flame – retardant qualities. Although my current pillow is mad of natural components, I will definitely be looking out in the future to avoid purchasing such goods.

I’ve always shunned the idea of planned obsolescence, a concept introduced to me while I was studying Business at school last year, and frankly do not see its value in our world today, or any time previously for that matter. It makes you wonder how, after such true and convincing evidence that our resources and state of living is in decline, people and industries maintain the same work and production ethic, holding a blind eye to it all.