Product contentment

My pair of Chelsea boots had been 10 years old at the time, and the soles needed fixing. I like wearing them (they feel good and they look good), so I wanted to keep them in rotation. The wear and tear only show signs of a well-loved item and add to the character. All in all, I’m content with them.

I started thinking about the patterns of other purchases—physical and digital—which give me a sense of contentment. It’s a peculiar state, because there aren’t many products fitting the criteria. To me, product contentment is achieved when a product follows this formula:

• It is well crafted. Its construction is solid and beautiful,¹ meaning it was made to be used well. You don’t want to change a thing about it. And it’s highly fixable.
• It is a joy to use. The build quality can contribute to this, but it should also make you genuinely feel good. It’s hassle-free to operate, and you find simple pleasures each time.
• It fits your lifestyle. It says something about the owner, either shown through its usage or implied through its philosophy. In branding pitches, we sometimes include a selection of products that our audience might use, to paint a persona. Product as lifestyle is more and more inherent in the pieces of software we interact with daily, though it’s not a new concept and can be traced back to postmodernist theories.
• It sticks with you, and you stick with it, for a long time. The Lindy effect might be a factor. But things that last can still leave you wanting more. When there’s product contentment, you don’t feel the need to get shiny new objects in the same category.

There are few items in my contentment list. The upside is that I absolutely adore them.

• Victorinox Nail Clipper. This tiny thing does its job well. It stays in my everyday carry pouch.
• The Frenchie Co. Speed Wallet. Smart and compact design. Feels nice in the hand. It makes my errands and trips to coffee shops more exciting.
• Obsidian. I respect their stand in product making. The app is highly customizable, but also works great out of the box. Using it makes me feel grounded.
• Lamy 2000 Fountain Pen. Great form: the satisfying snap cap, the subtle ink window, the spring-loaded clip. Great function: the buttery-smooth nib, the comfortable grip section, the sturdy build.
• A pair of Chelsea boots. I don’t know the exact origin of this pair. A few stitches broke after 10 years, which is acceptable.