Never have we wanted, owned, and wasted so much “stuff.” Our consumptive path through modern life leaves a wake of social and ecological destruction—sneakers worn only once, forgotten smartphones languishing in drawers, and abandoned IoT devices promising solutions to problems that don’t exist. By what perverse alchemy do our newest, coolest things so readily transform into meaningless junk?

This PhD Summer School investigates why we throw away things that still work, and shows how we can design products, services, and experiences that last. Each day, we will explore a different thematic aspect of design that lasts—from “object meaning” and “urban mines,” to “maintenance and repair” and “rich experience.” In response, you will work in a small team to design products, services, and experiences that last.