Designing products that serve real needs

Who Needs It?, the first report on the market implications of the sustainable lifestyles transition, argued that any new product, technology or service should be subjected to the 'Need Test'. For the "Diagnosis" part of the test, the following series of questions are asked: (1) What is the primary function of the product or service? (2) What other benefits does the product or service offer? (3) Is there likely to be a long-term need and/or demand? (4) How does the value/impact assessment look today? (5) Would this product or service be sustainable in an equitable world of 8-10 billion people? (6) Are there more sustainable ways of providing the same function – or meeting the same need? For the "Prognosis" the following question is asked: On the basis of 1-6, what threats and opportunities will there be for the product or service during the sustainability transition.