Introduction
In an era marked by pressing ecological challenges, a new approach to understanding our relationship with material culture is essential. Viewing objects as passive, inert things is no longer sufficient. Instead, we must adopt a dynamic, process-oriented framework that acknowledges the inherent vitality of materials and the continuous processes of “making and becoming,” as proposed by thinkers like Tim Ingold and Jane Bennett. This perspective, which recognises that “nothing is away,” offers a more robust foundation for genuine sustainability than traditional environmentalism. By making these macro-ecological ideas tangible within our immediate, lived environments, we can foster deeper engagement with the environmental issues of our time.

The Historical Context
This research builds on the understanding that the massive proliferation of “stuff” is not a coincidence but the result of a co-evolutionary process between humans and things. Archaeologist Ian Hodder argues that human development is driven by an ever-increasing entanglement with objects, creating an “incessant spiral of connection” that has serious environmental consequences. Adrian Forty’s historical analysis supports this by demonstrating how the home became a central hub of consumption through socio-economic and political shifts. The home, therefore, is a powerful and potent space to cultivate change in our relationship with objects and the environment.

The Problem: The Intention-Action Gap
A core problem today is the “intention-action gap”: people want to be more sustainable but often don’t follow through. This is worsened by a culture of planned obsolescence and a tendency to discard things long before they are functionally useless. The most effective solution is to increase product durability, but abstract, data-driven educational efforts often fail to motivate this change. This is where Jonathan Chapman’s concept of emotionally durable design comes in. Durability isn’t just about function; it’s about building an emotional connection that makes us want to keep things for longer.

A New Analogy for Appliances
To achieve this, my research extends Chapman’s ideas through a new analogy: our domestic appliances are not just machines but partners in our homes. This reframing, inspired by Design Noir strategies, introduces a moral dimension to our interactions. By translating abstract data into relatable, activity-based narratives—for example, a refrigerator giving a subtle signal about how often its door is left open—we create a slight “design noir” element of moral discomfort. This discomfort pushes us toward a more conscious and committed relationship with our possessions.

The Holistic Design Approach
This project’s perspective celebrates a holistic design approach, moving beyond the conventional focus on optimising products for a single function. It reframes the home not merely as a container for objects, but as a complex human-appliance ecosystem and a stage for our daily lives. The anthropology of interior design reveals how this domestic space fundamentally shapes our relationships with the objects within it. Our goal, therefore, is to design not for isolated functionality, but for entanglement.

Designing for Entanglement
Designing for entanglement means creating a deeper, more meaningful connection between people and their possessions. This goes beyond a device’s simple utility—like a kettle’s ability to boil water—to build a relationship where an appliance’s purpose is intertwined with our lives and values. We foster this connection by translating abstract data into tangible, activity-based narratives. For example, a refrigerator that provides a “narrative” about how frequently its door is left open, or a lamp that tells the story of its total operating hours, creates a subtle sense of moral discomfort and accountability (a “design noir” element). This pushes us beyond passive consumption and into a state of mindful custodianship.

By bringing appliances and their activities onto the “stage” of our homes, we can shift social rituals and bring these objects into the forefront of our consciousness. This behavioural approach addresses the “intention-action gap” in sustainability. It uses relational language, like “overloaded partner,” to make data empathetic and relatable, pushing us towards a new form of ethical engagement with our possessions.

Conclusion
The insights from this project could be integrated into smart home systems to provide this kind of feedback, revealing the true nature of our relationships with our appliances. This perspective redefines the home as a system of active meaning, cultivating a sense of responsibility and promoting greater product durability. It challenges us, as both Homo faber (the maker) and Homo sapiens (the wise person), to narrow the spiral of consumption and build a more intentional and sustainable relationship with our domestic spaces while co-evolving with technology and battling indifference.