Michel Millot is the founder of Millot Design, France. He studied Industrial Design at the Ulm School of Design, Germany, and developed the product information system at the Georges Pompidou Center. At Camif, France, he tests, analyzes and compares products. At ENSAD, France, he is Professor of Industrial Design. He is the President of ISUC, France, and a Consultant in Design and Marketing at Eurodesign.

• Preface ixIntroduction xiChapter 1. Understanding the Economic World 11.1. A consumer society pushed to its limits 11.1.1. A faltering economic system 11.1.2. An economic shock for consumers? 31.1.3. Making what sells, to sell 31.1.4. The production society 41.1.5. The commodification of the world: finance 41.1.6. Globalization 61.1.7. GDP: no longer the right indicator 81.2. Economic and political approach 111.2.1. The act of consumption 111.2.2. The act of purchasing 131.2.3. The economic act 141.2.4. The political act 151.2.5. Greenwashing 151.2.6. Buying: a way to have fun 161.2.7. Economic theories 181.2.8. Modes of consumption 201.2.9. Supply and demand 211.2.10. Purchasing power 231.3. Desirable development 24Chapter 2. Cultural Approach 292.1. Cultural facts 292.1.1. The culture of choice: choices as a cultural fact 292.1.2. Cultural choices 302.1.3. Cultural diversity 312.1.4. Objects as signals, ostentations 322.1.5. Groupthink, fashion and social evidence 342.1.6. Socio-culture 362.1.7. Trends and behaviors 372.2. The desire for products 372.3. The image society and the virtual society 412.3.1. The image society 412.3.2. The virtual society 422.4. Qualities of life 432.4.1. Well-being with products 432.4.2. Ways of life 502.4.3. Lifestyles 522.4.4. Standards of living 532.4.5. Over-consumption 54Chapter 3. What Information Do We Need to Pick the Right Product? 573.1. Choice of products. 573.1.1. The problem with choice 573.1.2. The process of choice 593.1.3. The frustration of choice 623.2. What is usage? 653.2.1. The problem with usage 653.2.2. The field of use 663.3. The indispensable: usage and environmental factors 733.3.1. Usage qualities 733.3.2. Environmental qualities 753.4. Evaluating the usage requirements and performances for choice 803.4.1. The analysis of usage/the criteria of evaluation 803.4.2. How to evaluate usage qualities 823.4.3. The price and cost of usage 913.4.4. Habitual suitability 923.5. Proposals for product information 973.5.1. Conditions and information requirements on products 973.5.2. Proposal of product information systems: dust removal method study 993.5.3. Information in the instructions for use 1053.5.4. Proposals for distributors and major buyers 1063.5.5. Information systems for users 1083.5.6. Help with product selection: product typologies 1103.5.7. Case study: creation of an information system for toys 110Conclusion 117Appendices 123Appendix 1. Information Sheet on Toys 125Appendix 2. Information System for Products – CCI 129Appendix 3. The Risks of Domestic Accidents Related to Products and Equipment 131Appendix 4. User Impairment: Risks and Difficulties 151Appendix 5. Information Sheet on Products 159Appendix 6. Interior Space for Showering while Standing Up or Sitting Down 163Appendix 7. Information Sheet on Products 165Appendix 8. Study on Vacuum Cleaners 169Appendix 9. Facades of Appliances (Case Study) 177Appendix 10. Shower Heads:What Sprays and Handles to Choose? 181References 189Index 193

Michel Millot is the founder of Millot Design, France. He studied Industrial Design at the Ulm School of Design, Germany, and developed the product information system at the Georges Pompidou Center. At Camif, France, he tests, analyzes and compares products. At ENSAD, France, he is Professor of Industrial Design. He is the President of ISUC, France, and a Consultant in Design and Marketing at Eurodesign.

• Preface ixIntroduction xiChapter 1. Understanding the Economic World 11.1. A consumer society pushed to its limits 11.1.1. A faltering economic system 11.1.2. An economic shock for consumers? 31.1.3. Making what sells, to sell 31.1.4. The production society 41.1.5. The commodification of the world: finance 41.1.6. Globalization 61.1.7. GDP: no longer the right indicator 81.2. Economic and political approach 111.2.1. The act of consumption 111.2.2. The act of purchasing 131.2.3. The economic act 141.2.4. The political act 151.2.5. Greenwashing 151.2.6. Buying: a way to have fun 161.2.7. Economic theories 181.2.8. Modes of consumption 201.2.9. Supply and demand 211.2.10. Purchasing power 231.3. Desirable development 24Chapter 2. Cultural Approach 292.1. Cultural facts 292.1.1. The culture of choice: choices as a cultural fact 292.1.2. Cultural choices 302.1.3. Cultural diversity 312.1.4. Objects as signals, ostentations 322.1.5. Groupthink, fashion and social evidence 342.1.6. Socio-culture 362.1.7. Trends and behaviors 372.2. The desire for products 372.3. The image society and the virtual society 412.3.1. The image society 412.3.2. The virtual society 422.4. Qualities of life 432.4.1. Well-being with products 432.4.2. Ways of life 502.4.3. Lifestyles 522.4.4. Standards of living 532.4.5. Over-consumption 54Chapter 3. What Information Do We Need to Pick the Right Product? 573.1. Choice of products. 573.1.1. The problem with choice 573.1.2. The process of choice 593.1.3. The frustration of choice 623.2. What is usage? 653.2.1. The problem with usage 653.2.2. The field of use 663.3. The indispensable: usage and environmental factors 733.3.1. Usage qualities 733.3.2. Environmental qualities 753.4. Evaluating the usage requirements and performances for choice 803.4.1. The analysis of usage/the criteria of evaluation 803.4.2. How to evaluate usage qualities 823.4.3. The price and cost of usage 913.4.4. Habitual suitability 923.5. Proposals for product information 973.5.1. Conditions and information requirements on products 973.5.2. Proposal of product information systems: dust removal method study 993.5.3. Information in the instructions for use 1053.5.4. Proposals for distributors and major buyers 1063.5.5. Information systems for users 1083.5.6. Help with product selection: product typologies 1103.5.7. Case study: creation of an information system for toys 110Conclusion 117Appendices 123Appendix 1. Information Sheet on Toys 125Appendix 2. Information System for Products – CCI 129Appendix 3. The Risks of Domestic Accidents Related to Products and Equipment 131Appendix 4. User Impairment: Risks and Difficulties 151Appendix 5. Information Sheet on Products 159Appendix 6. Interior Space for Showering while Standing Up or Sitting Down 163Appendix 7. Information Sheet on Products 165Appendix 8. Study on Vacuum Cleaners 169Appendix 9. Facades of Appliances (Case Study) 177Appendix 10. Shower Heads:What Sprays and Handles to Choose? 181References 189Index 193

Michel Millot is the founder of Millot Design, France. He studied Industrial Design at the Ulm School of Design, Germany, and developed the product information system at the Georges Pompidou Center. At Camif, France, he tests, analyzes and compares products. At ENSAD, France, he is Professor of Industrial Design. He is the President of ISUC, France, and a Consultant in Design and Marketing at Eurodesign.

• Preface ixIntroduction xiChapter 1. Understanding the Economic World 11.1. A consumer society pushed to its limits 11.1.1. A faltering economic system 11.1.2. An economic shock for consumers? 31.1.3. Making what sells, to sell 31.1.4. The production society 41.1.5. The commodification of the world: finance 41.1.6. Globalization 61.1.7. GDP: no longer the right indicator 81.2. Economic and political approach 111.2.1. The act of consumption 111.2.2. The act of purchasing 131.2.3. The economic act 141.2.4. The political act 151.2.5. Greenwashing 151.2.6. Buying: a way to have fun 161.2.7. Economic theories 181.2.8. Modes of consumption 201.2.9. Supply and demand 211.2.10. Purchasing power 231.3. Desirable development 24Chapter 2. Cultural Approach 292.1. Cultural facts 292.1.1. The culture of choice: choices as a cultural fact 292.1.2. Cultural choices 302.1.3. Cultural diversity 312.1.4. Objects as signals, ostentations 322.1.5. Groupthink, fashion and social evidence 342.1.6. Socio-culture 362.1.7. Trends and behaviors 372.2. The desire for products 372.3. The image society and the virtual society 412.3.1. The image society 412.3.2. The virtual society 422.4. Qualities of life 432.4.1. Well-being with products 432.4.2. Ways of life 502.4.3. Lifestyles 522.4.4. Standards of living 532.4.5. Over-consumption 54Chapter 3. What Information Do We Need to Pick the Right Product? 573.1. Choice of products. 573.1.1. The problem with choice 573.1.2. The process of choice 593.1.3. The frustration of choice 623.2. What is usage? 653.2.1. The problem with usage 653.2.2. The field of use 663.3. The indispensable: usage and environmental factors 733.3.1. Usage qualities 733.3.2. Environmental qualities 753.4. Evaluating the usage requirements and performances for choice 803.4.1. The analysis of usage/the criteria of evaluation 803.4.2. How to evaluate usage qualities 823.4.3. The price and cost of usage 913.4.4. Habitual suitability 923.5. Proposals for product information 973.5.1. Conditions and information requirements on products 973.5.2. Proposal of product information systems: dust removal method study 993.5.3. Information in the instructions for use 1053.5.4. Proposals for distributors and major buyers 1063.5.5. Information systems for users 1083.5.6. Help with product selection: product typologies 1103.5.7. Case study: creation of an information system for toys 110Conclusion 117Appendices 123Appendix 1. Information Sheet on Toys 125Appendix 2. Information System for Products – CCI 129Appendix 3. The Risks of Domestic Accidents Related to Products and Equipment 131Appendix 4. User Impairment: Risks and Difficulties 151Appendix 5. Information Sheet on Products 159Appendix 6. Interior Space for Showering while Standing Up or Sitting Down 163Appendix 7. Information Sheet on Products 165Appendix 8. Study on Vacuum Cleaners 169Appendix 9. Facades of Appliances (Case Study) 177Appendix 10. Shower Heads:What Sprays and Handles to Choose? 181References 189Index 193