Repurposing is the process by which an object with one use value is transformed or redeployed as an object with an alternative use value. It is becoming increasingly critical in today’s context.
Why? There are multiple contexts , a few of them i will list below.
Creation of any object or a product or a platform is costly , painful, challenging with uncertain results. When the results are not realised, should the costs and efforts go waste?
Building the initial object or product or platform in a way that it can be re-purposed for another industry/another use case/ another market means the costs are not written off altogether. With a little effort and cost, the product can become useful another way . Pivoting is so common today in ecosystems that repurposing is a key planning attribute in any product design.How easy it is to re-purpose when you want to pivot?
For an individual, certain skills/attributes and experiences are relevant in only one area/industry/role. Certain other skills and experiences can be re-purposed to other areas/functions/industries/roles. This re-purposing makes the individual more marketable and relevant.
For a platform serving a product/service/market segment, the ability and ease of serving another is a critical differentiator to scale.
Re-purposing is a deliberate, critical intent in design that is well worth institutionalising.
