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I've always liked the idea of making things that last forever, not necessarily in the sense of being unbreakable, but more psychologically permanent. Most people throw stuff away not because it's broken but because their relationship with that object is broken.
Marcel Wanders
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Interpretation

What this quote means

True value lies in the emotional connections we form with objects, rather than their physical durability.

Marcel Wanders reflects on the significance of emotional attachment to objects, suggesting that people discard items not typically due to their physical state but because they no longer hold meaning or relations that resonate with them. His statement emphasizes the importance of creating lasting memories and connections, which imbue objects with deeper psychological significance.

Themes

AttachmentObjectsRelationshipsValueMemories

In practice

Example use cases

During a talk on design philosophy, sharing this quote can illustrate the importance of emotional connections in product creation.

More from Marcel Wanders

I want to create a world with objects and surroundings that are human, more romantic, and less sterile.
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A product can live on one great idea. An interior needs 1,000 great ideas to really live, which makes interior design a whole orchestration of this art of juxtaposition, placement, and combination.
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I have been a designer all my life, and design, for me, is to share love and trust and show the future in a beautiful way. I have worked on this principle all my life.
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My design always has a political agenda. When I borrow components from various cultures and juxtapose them in an object, it is a message that co-existence is indeed possible. Design creates an ideal world where different ideas live close to each other in perfect harmony.
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When I make chairs, they have legs; they can go anywhere in the world. Interiors are a different responsibility. A house is a representation of where you are, and it has to be right for the place.
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Design, by definition, is an eco-friendly activity, as its aim is to create objects which are meaningful and durable. Trends always cost resources, but a true designer creates wares which will remain relevant forever.
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