Built over decades
I first noticed this pattern with Brompton bicycles. Founded by British engineer Andrew Ritchie, this folding bike has been continuously refined since 1975. The company has produced essentially the same bike, with slight variations, fine-tuning every detail over the years. I own one, and I enjoy noticing the care built into it.
My Ricoh GR digital camera comes from a similar philosophy. The model has been updated every four to five years, iterating on what many consider the ideal point-and-shoot. Its lineage goes back to 1968, with the first GR film camera, whose basic form and function have carried through to the latest version.
One thing these products share is that they hold their value remarkably well. You can own and use them for a decade, and they still do the job they were designed to do.
I’m drawn to products refined over decades as an alternative to the short lifespan of most modern technology. I realized that I take a similar approach to building Wordmark. I’ve been working on it since 2011, making small, steady improvements and releasing major design and architectural updates every four to five years.
