TALK: JONATHAN CHAPMAN ON EMOTIONAL DURABILITY

Join us for a talk exploring how we can strengthen our emotional relationships with the objects that surround us. The event directly connects to the themes of the current exhibition, Belongings – Affection as a Design Strategy, which presents design not only as form and function, but also as meaningful relationships.

How do we design products that we truly want to keep for many years? This question is explored by British professor Jonathan Chapman from Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Design. Drawing on his research, Chapman shares insights into how design can act as a catalyst for deeper attachment. He is the originator of the concept of “Emotional Durability” and will unfold how emotional attachment can become a direct strategy for extending a product’s lifespan. Along the way, the audience is invited to join the conversation and reflect on how we create stronger bonds between people and objects.

About the speaker

Professor Jonathan Chapman is a professor at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Design and the founder of the “emotionally durable design” movement, which he first introduced in his book Emotionally Durable Design: Objects, Experiences & Empathy (2005). Today, the concept is utilized by designers, students, and educators worldwide as a means to comprehend the various factors that influence an object’s enduring value and significance.