In Pursuit of Novelty
In many ways, history is the story of the ever-changing face of production. From handcrafted paleolithic tools in ancient times to robotic modern manufacturing today, few could argue that the way we build and buy things has not become more efficient over the years. Surely we can see the benefits of this in the form of cheaper prices and consistency of products, though we must also ask ourselves an important question: what has been lost in the pursuit of ever-greater uniformity of what is sold? Having lost our willingness to mend rather than end and our preference for quality over cost come to mind. There is, however, one more among the fallen. It is a great loss, yet it is one that is far less visible to us, largely because we have grown accustomed to its absence: novelty and the connection between buyer and seller, the exchange and appreciation of what is different and unique. It would be unfair to write off everything common as bad, of course. Simply because there are many of something is more a reflection of the demand for that item than it is a symbol of regression. However, it is important to appreciate when something should be unique and when uniformity is called for. Would a reasonable person buy a handmade washing machine? Surely not, we scoff, because a washing machine’s primary duty is function rather than novelty, purpose instead of beauty. And it is this observation of when novelty is not needed that leads us to recognize when novelty is of greatest value: when we wish to express ourselves and when aesthetic qualities are paramount.
Given what we now know about the purpose of novelty, where would we expect to see it most? In anything we use to present ourselves to the world: clothing, accessories, bags, the gifts we give to others, and more. Naturally, we would want our favorite retail spaces to cater to this need for the novel, though we too often find that what is offered in one place is quite the same as another. If we dig deeper, the cause of this uniformity of offerings becomes clear: many buy their goods from the same handful of out of touch suppliers, both to ensure a lower price and because they have forgotten the importance of thoughtful giving, of the joy of providing something truly suited to the recipient rather than just another knick-knack to collect dust. Indeed, some stores do not even select their own products to sell in the first place, preferring to outsource every part of the process to conglomerate contract shop-management companies, further distancing the sellers, buyers, and consumers from one another. In many ways, this is the antithesis of novelty and customer appreciation: many stores in many places all selling goods they did not select, produced in bulk for the sake of efficiency and profit rather than to suit the store’s specific clientele and show recognition of their individual preferences and personalities. We buy our washing machines this way: fast and cheap, with no regard for expression or beauty, because it is a purely utilitarian purchase. If gifts are bought and sold in this same manner, what message does that send? What does it say about the disconnect between sellers, the buyers, and the recipients who deserve to have gifts as unique as they are?
The uniform production of goods is unarguably one of the best ways that mankind has raised its own quality of life through greater availability of medical equipment, building materials, consumer electronics, and so much more. However, we cannot pretend that there were no costs associated with this. Art, fashion, and design derive their value from their uniqueness and connection with an audience, not their widespread availability, yet these areas have been swept along into homogeneity just the same. Take a moment to appreciate your surroundings. What do you see that is novel? What was handmade with attention to every detail? What do you own that was constructed specifically with you in mind? Every one of us has a mix of common and unique goods in our lives, and both of these serve us well and make our lives richer for having them. However, we must not fail to remember the specific roles they play in our human experience and where the balance between the ordinary and the extraordinary should be. If you find yourself needing a little more ordinary in your life, there are plenty of options out there for that new washing machine you need. If, on the other hand, you are seeking that unique item specifically suited to you or that special someone, we just happen to know a Studio who might be able to help you with that.
