Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
30 Very Well-Designed Products That Are Almost Guaranteed To Last You (Almost) A Lifetime
Interview With Expert
In our day-to-day lives, we use multiple objects without even realizing how technology has evolved to make things more convenient for us. These products not only save our time but also make tasks quite easy.
Now, we think these well-designed or durable products deserve a shout-out, so we have compiled a list of the best ones as per netizens. Some of these things are so commonly used that you might not have even thought about how efficiently designed they are. Piqued your interest, have we? Just scroll down and check them out for yourself!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Paper clips. It’s one of the most brilliant designs of all time. It’s cheap, one part, and extremely functional. It barely changed from its invention.
RELATED:
#2
Kitchen-aid stand mixer. Lasts forever. Same design since the 1930’s. Backward and forward compatible accessories.
David 9 months ago
Same on the OUTSIDE. Not same inside. Some years ago they switched from metal gears to nylon gears and they don't last as long. Maybe some other changes too but the gears are the change I hear about. You can find videos on YT showing how to replace the gears. I think I also heard it is possible to purchase compatible metal gears to upgrade your product close to what it used to be.
#3
The Bic ball pen has not undergone a design change since its inception iirc.
Dragons Exist 9 months ago
There's a good yt vid on its history and why it's one of the most well-designed and successful products ever
As you go through the list, you will realize how ordinary some of these products really are, but after seeing them on this list, you might give them a second thought. You will realize how their incredible design makes them so efficient that they help you overcome the small challenges in your life. Meanwhile, the design of others makes them last longer and you will think about how they've stayed loyally by your side for ages!
To understand more about the design of such products, Bored Panda reached out to Sharanya Salehittal, who has product-designing experience. She explained that good product design is functional, easy to use, good-looking, and long-lasting. It ought to solve a problem well but be simple to use and pleasant-looking, she added.
#5
Fiskars scissors.
#6
Singer sewing machines. Such delicate components yet they can be repaired to last a century.
We also discussed about the common mistakes that lead to poor design and Sharanya emphasized, "Typical design pitfalls are neglecting the needs of users, making things overly complex, bad material selection, and not being durable enough."
She strongly believes that looks-first designs tend to fail many times because they prioritize aesthetics over functionality, usability, and durability. She narrated that a product that looks good but is uncomfortable or difficult to use quickly frustrates consumers. "A sleek chair with poor ergonomics might look appealing, but it won't be functional for long-term sitting," Sharanya explained.
#7
The porcelain toilet. It runs on nothing but differences in water pressure, keeps bathroom smells to a minimum, largely cleans itself, and helped eliminate a whole bunch of feces-borne diseases in the developed world.
Gabby M 9 months ago
They have got better contemporary designs like wall mount and the more streamline base so much easier to clean. apartment-...9f1633.jpg 
Our expert also spoke about certain design elements that always work well across different products. She narrated that simple designs, clean typography, and balanced proportions are effective across various products.
"Simplicity, ergonomics, and intuitive usability are some timeless design principles that stand the test of time. Minimalist designs tend to be more intuitive and user-friendly, a product that fits naturally in the hand or body will always be comfortable to use, and a product should communicate how to use it without instructions," Sharanya noted.
#10
Wooden clothes pin.
Dragons Exist 9 months ago
The only problem is how easy it is to take off the wood pieces and how hard it is to put them back into the spring
#11
The IKEA "Billy" bookcases have a notch in the lower back designed to fit over baseboard moldings so your bookcase can sit flush with the wall.
ॐBoyGanesh 9 months ago
Is the Billy still solid wood or particle board? In college I had an amazing IKEA bookshelf that was all wood and thought for sure it was a Billy.
superfluous 9 months ago
Is there a standard height for baseboards? My current house has 5" (12.7 cm) baseboards.
Kit Black 9 months ago
The Billy cutout is 3 & 1/2", and they've worked everywhere I've lived, including the 75yo house we bought several years ago. Your baseboards sound kind of tall, but good baseboards matter more than cheap bookcases.
Load More Replies...
Kit Black 9 months ago
I have 5, and they have lasted for years, but I put wood glue in every single attachment point, and along every single seam when we put them together initially - probably kind of overkill, lol
Load More Replies...
Sharanya thinks that the ballpoint pen is an example of a product that was exceptionally well-designed. She mentioned that it was a significant upgrade from fountain pens, with a more durable ink reservoir, fast-drying ink, and leak-proof construction. Fountain pens, on the other hand, needed to be refilled frequently, tended to leak, and had to be handled with care, she added.
We asked her to mention a product that she thought was ahead of its time in terms of design and durability. Sharanya said, "The Sony Walkman was forward-thinking, providing portable music with excellent design and longevity. It transformed personal audio and set the stage for MP3 players and smartphones."
#13
The Fender Telecaster and the Gibson J-45.
Joots (shants/jorts) 9 months ago
I much prefer the sound of the tele than the strat - some famous telecaster players: Joe Strummer, Waylon Jennings, Tom Morello, Keith Richards, Kenneth Pattengale, Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Keith Richards, Jeff Buckley, Chrissie Hynde, Jimmy Page, Muddy Waters, George Harrison, Bruce Springsteen, Jonny Greenwood (Radiohead)
#14
Okay, hear me out.
Hungry Jack's syrup bottle lids are immaculately designed.
They have the cleanest pour ever. The shape of the spout makes it so the syrup pours out smoothly and then collects back into the lid without sparing even the tiniest drop. It's like magic watching it go straight back into the bottle. The lid is always clear of sticky residue and therefore never gets stuck closed. It is honestly really impressive. I haven't even mentioned the best part yet– the hole the syrup comes out of is in the shape of a smiley face.
I don't know who created these lids, but this is like, top tier engineering and design.
#15
Zippo lighters.
Karl der Große 9 months ago
What's the difference between a hippo and a Zippo? One can weigh up to four tons, while the other one is a little lighter.
Well, that's it from our end, now we want to hand over the platform to you so you can voice your opinions. Which one of these well-designed or durable products were you most fascinated by? Give an upvote on them and don't forget to leave your thoughts in the comments. Also, if we have missed any products, feel free to jot them down!
#16
Birkenstocks. I have a pair of the leather Arizonas and walked 4 miles in them daily for the last 2 years. still going strong.
#17
AC (corded) Dremel. First shop tool I bought 30 years ago, still works great.
Lew k 9 months ago
Love my Dremel. The drywall attachment just cut a big project time down by hours for me. I built out my shed/ workshop and put outlets and lighting everywhere because once I finished i never wanted to decide i needed another outlet or light. Did legitimately 20 outlet cut outs and the dremel just ate it up. I got a chance to use the dewalt drywall tool recently and it legit puts the dremel to shame for drywall but I don't do drywall every day and for a 25$ attachment on an existing tool it was amazing.
#19
The classic ice cream scoop is one for the books.
#20
G-Shock watches (the classic designs, not the more extravagant ones).
Thomas Francis 9 months ago
Casio watches seem to last for ever and the basic designs of many stay the same for decades even if they regularly shift the country of manufacture.
#21
Clipper lighters. Replace the gas and the flint and they’ll last forever!
#22
Apple hardware in general. I’ve got multiple macs in storage that still work but timed out on updates. I got probably 8 or 9 years out of each. I’m typing this on a 6 year old iPhone that still lasts a full day on one charge. Whatever you think of their business and ecosystem, their stuff is built to last.
#23
Thermapen One meat thermometer is a well-designed product that works well and lasts a long time. I kept buying cheap ones from Amazon and they kept breaking. Someone loaned me a Thermapen and I immediately bought one.
#24
I have been using the same Samsonite camera bag for 20 years with zero breakage and very little wear.
General Anaesthesia 9 months ago (edited)
Pedantic but I think that's a Lowepro lens exchange bag, not Samsonite. (not the actual photo.)
#25
Handmade leather wallet. Getting rid of the iPhones, going dumb phone, so I’ll need a new place to put the cards.
#26
Dyson Vanuum Cleaners are vacuums are well designed. Excellent performance. Made so well each component can be easily repaired.
Extremely reliable and designed to make you enjoy using them. Very powerful vaccuums.
Not inexpensive but worth the money.
#28
Adidas sliders - Cost about £20 ten years ago and I’ve worn them 95% of the days since and still going strong
#29
Vitsoe 606 Shelving.
We're slowly filling our house with it, not cheap but my daughter will be able to pass it on to her grandchildren. It's timeless and built to survive the apocalypse.
Jaya 9 months ago
Wouldn't recommend buying stuff with the idea that your children and grandchildren will be able to keep them. Many kids and grandkids don't have the same taste as you and don't want it. (Although they might be even to give/sell them to someone else who will enjoy it for decades)
#30
When talking about design, you can never find a better example than Apple. Apple products are designed with clean and simple look, which is very easy to use. The usability of these products is second to none. There is never a case of user being stuck in the middle of using Apple products.
Apple's iPod is a great example. It’s simple and easy to use. There is no need to read any manual. You just plug it in and play music. It is thin enough to keep in your pocket. It has a touch screen that makes it easy to navigate and find the music you want. It is portable, durable, and aesthetically pleasing.
Thomas Francis 9 months ago
Even if the iPod design was heavily influenced by a much earlier Braun transistor radio.
Explore more of these tags
What do you think ?
ShortAttnSpanTheatre 9 months ago
Very good reading! Classy and positive. More like this, please.
ShortAttnSpanTheatre 9 months ago
Very good reading! Classy and positive. More like this, please.
You May Like Someone Asked, “You Just Won A Billion Dollars, What Are You Still Not Buying?”, Here Are 53 Of The Best Responses Things That Are Perfect: List of 70 Absolutely Perfect Things 51 Timeless Things That Never Lost Their Original Appeal
Aivaras Kaziukonis
Justina Čiapaitė
Justina Čiapaitė
Related on Bored Panda
