Design principles for Product-Service Systems : Using a washing machine as an example

Abstract: Product-Service Systems (PSS) represents an emerging paradigm in which products and services are integrated to provide enhanced value to customers. By focusing on the specific context of a washing machine, this project explored the opportunities and challenges associated with designing for PSS. This project’s research methodology, which we conducted on behalf of Electrolux AB, employed a combination of literature review, e.g. within Circular Economy (CE), interviews with company employees, as well as interviews and observations of multiple user types to gather insights and perspectives from multiple stakeholders. The purpose of this master thesis project was to develop design principles for PSS and present those in a design proposal for a washing machine bespoke for PSS. Our findings highlight the importance of considering various factors such as user behaviour, considerations of multiple user categories, the environmental impact of products, and circular business models in designing for PSS. The developed principles emphasise the need for on-site reparable and upgradable products, easy installations, seamless integration of digital technologies, energy and resource efficiency, user-centric design, and effective communication channels between users and service providers. The developed design principles and the design proposal provide valuable guidance for designers, manufacturers, and service providers seeking to develop innovative PSS solutions. They offer a platform for creating sustainable, user-centred, and economically viable products and services that meet customers’ evolving needs and preferences. The insights gained from this research can also be partly generalised to other domains and contribute to the wider adoption of PSS as a transformative approach in the fields of product and service design.