Research goal

Step 1. Why is “newness” desirable?
(What makes Consumerism so successful?)

Physiology-wise
Seeking new and unfamiliar experiences is a fundamental behavioral tendency in humans and animals. It makes sense to try new options, as they may prove advantageous in the long run. Scientists have identified a primitive area of the brain that makes us adventurous -- a finding which may help explain why people routinely fall for "new" products when shopping. It’s just like an existence of this age-old reward mechanism indicates there is an evolutionary advantage in sampling the unknown.

Psychology-wise
1. Trendy
When it comes to shopping, we always want the latest things, whether the new pattern, new function or new design. It is the nature of people to pursue for the newness.

2. Curiosity
Some things sound really good to us or really odd to us, but in a lot of cases, we don’t really know until we try. It’s a psychological trigger that will persuade people to purchase a product or service simply to feed their curiosity.

3.Society influence
Influence from mass media, which promotes people to buy and cultivates consuming culture in the society. When everyone is carrying an ipod, no one would like to be the one still using the CD walkman.

4. Ownership (uncover the new things)
It is animal instinct to experience or conquer the new and unknown things. This subconsciously behavior is even more easily to satisfy in terms of shopping. People feel pleasant feeling when they unpack or discover a brand new packaged merchant, which recall the feeling of making a conquest of the new territory.

5. Renewal
People refresh themselves via exploring new things or new environments. These external excitements would bring along the input of newness to activate a certain degree new start in their own life.




Step 2. The dilemma of used materials/products.

Function-wise
1. Old and shabby
2. Labor and time-consuming

Psychology-wise
1. Disownership
2. Ego- dystonic
Used things are usually associated with the sense of famine of goods and materials. It is somehow embarrassing for people to buy second hand things.




Step 3. Inbuilt “newness” into reusable design/product.