What Are We Accumulating? Seeking Quality in the Digital Age

It’s common to see beautiful water fountains in Bergamo. Intricate and inviting, they offer refreshment to everyone—people and dogs, tourists and locals alike. There’s visible wear and tear where countless hands have touched them—a patina. A patina is more than just the visible aging of an object; it’s a testament to durability and longevity. It’s the visible expression of the accumulation of use toward quality.

Consider this:

• The maker crafts goods with intention and skill.

• These goods enable consumers to pursue their own endeavors with purpose.

• Over time, a bond forms—a silent commitment to quality between the maker’s intention and the consumer’s preferences.

I know this feeling well. My yellow leather gloves, my bike, my watches, my pencils—I have a deep connection with all of them. Yet, I’ve never felt that way about any digital product I’ve used. This realization has been nagging at me, and it wasn’t until this weekend that I could articulate what’s truly bothering me.

I tried hard to define a meaningful concept of digital patina but couldn’t. What’s troubling is: What is the new implicit commitment pointing toward in our digital goods?

Accumulation is the gradual gathering of something. So, what am I accumulating when using digital tools? What’s the expression of such accumulation? What’s the reinforcement dynamic between the digital maker and the consumer? In the digital world, it’s all about release, refresh, redesign—and repeat. The unique usage and personal touch seem lost in this cycle.

So, what are the new markers for durability, longevity, and quality?

In an age where the new swiftly replaces the old, we risk losing the depth and richness that come from enduring relationships with the objects we use. If digital goods cannot age with us, bearing the marks of our journey together, what does that say about our connection to the digital world—and to each other?

Perhaps the true measure of progress isn’t in constant change but in our ability to find lasting value in what we create and use.