Jason Kottke points us to some interesting thoughts about an object’s value cycle. For many things (photo negatives, vinyl records, old computers) there is a treacherous “trough of no value” between when they are new and when they become collectible and valuable. The article explains how, through craftsmanship and design, lasting value can be built into objects to shorten, or eliminate this low value period.
The Online Photographer explains the trough and Lunchboxes:
Who wanted to keep old lunchboxes around? They weren’t useful any more. They weren’t worth anything. And, since they were almost all used for their intended purpose, many were damaged or worn by use (I vaguely remember owning one that was rusty and had a dent). People naturally threw them away. The “trough of no value” for lunchboxes was long and harsh. That’s why they’re not so common today as you might guess — because not that many made it through the trough.
The Online Photographer: “The Trough of No Value”
[via Kottke]
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