Designing things to last on the Internet. Some quick thoughts:
I researched longevity in textiles and fashion when I studying 10+ years ago, but never really considered it for websites.
In fashion, the wear of material is obvious. With the very idea of being ‘out of fashion’ killing stuff before it materially decays too.
Things die quickly on the internet also. You can dig up old things though, so it sometimes feels like nothing dies too.
I feel like there are a lot of parallels between fast fashion and fast content. Online content can churn out just as fast fashion does: cheaply, quickly, constantly and poorly made.
(I have totally made up fast content, but it captures something I am feeling about content online.)
(What are the life conditions for the people making these fast things?)
I don’t know how much I want fast content to last to be honest. I guess it’s not designed for that, so maybe it won’t..?
Link rot is frustrating though, because sometimes you hit a gem and bookmark, and when you go back it’s gone. Some content is worth keeping I suppose. Some websites should be designed with longevity in mind. (Some clothes too.)
Does fast content have the same environmental and ethical concerns as fast fashion?
What does designing content to last look like in practice?
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