In a world were material things are essentially free or close to it

[Independent voter]

Say it's 100-200 years from now and you're a 25 year old person. Anything you want is extremely cheap or free, there are automated factories that make things using something like 3D printers. You want a PS11? You ask your personal internet assistant for a PS11 and it's delivered to you by drone and it costs you pennies if anything at all.

One way to make money is to design something people want, you advertise your product on the internet and people order it and it's shipped to them. For example a doorknob that looks like a starfish. Manufacturing things to sell cost you very little money to free depending on what it is.

What would you design? What would people who have everything want?

[s_bushido]

So...why skip over the obvious "what's the point of doing things to 'make money' in the first place" question? In essentially the Star Trek world with replicators, people would probably end up looking for something other than "making money" as a motivation for their daily lives.

[Deleted]

Everything free would mean no more motivation and makes people depressed to a point where humanity would collapse.

[Tiwack]

Read Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

[Zafire]

Everything free would mean no more motivation and makes people depressed to a point where humanity would collapse.

Says you. When I was unemployed I did a lot of walking, exercising, and overall just focusing on my health. It's a lot easier to do when your freetime isn't ripped apart by 50+ hour work weeks.

[Terahertz]

Says you. When I was unemployed I did a lot of walking, exercising, and overall just focusing on my health. It's a lot easier to do when your freetime isn't ripped apart by 50+ hour work weeks.

Everything in moderation. A moderate amount of free time after having worked for a long time is nice. Having all the free time after not having ever to work gets boring, depressing and frustrating.

[Korlok]

Everything in moderation. A moderate amount of free time after having worked for a long time is nice. Having all the free time after not having ever to work gets boring, depressing and frustrating.

Only if you need someone else to tell you what to do with your life.
If you had all the free time in the world, I'm sure you would prefer to find something to do rather than being bored.
Boredom itself is a symptom of a lazy mind.

[Mittens]

Such a society would be based on popularity contests. So I would make stuff that the "cool kids" want. Like fidget spinners and similar stuff.

[Independent voter]

Land would still have value. I assume populations will continue to decline because of the current trends and things like sex bots and lack of purpose.

The house would be practically free but land is still a limited resource.

[LMuhlen]

Why would you need land if you can live in virtual reality? Get a matrix pod and you are set for life.

[Radaney]

I'd design art, as art is unique.

[Zafire]

Everything in moderation. A moderate amount of free time after having worked for a long time is nice. Having all the free time after not having ever to work gets boring, depressing and frustrating.

I still don't know about that. I was out of work for almost two years because of a meniscus tear (long story) and I never got bored. Still spent a lot of time outdoors. Played a lot of video games. Socialized quite a bit, which is something I don't normally do. Etc. Retired people seem to do just fine.

[Noomz]

So...why skip over the obvious "what's the point of doing things to 'make money' in the first place" question? In essentially the Star Trek world with replicators, people would probably end up looking for something other than "making money" as a motivation for their daily lives.

For the betterment, enrichment and progress of society. Just like in Star Trek.

[Medusa Cascade]

Custom dildos. Gem encrusted horse dicks!

[Jonnusthegreat]

I would design sex bots.

[Nasuuna]

I'd find something that still benefits from having an imperfect human touch.

Maybe take up Carpentry, most professional old school carpenters were artists with their buildings

[GennGreymane]

Everything free would mean no more motivation and makes people depressed to a point where humanity would collapse.

You are correct, we would as a society need to drive people towards other outlets to say motivated. That is not very likely.

[Medusa Cascade]

You are correct, we would as a society need to drive people towards other outlets to say motivated. That is not very likely.

Just make everyone sexy, the inevitable genitalia battles will keep people busy

[GennGreymane]

Just make everyone sexy, the inevitable genitalia battles will keep people busy

The future you desire is absolute madness, but intriguing.

[Shakadam]

Everything free would mean no more motivation and makes people depressed to a point where humanity would collapse.

Life must be pretty hellish if your only motivation in life is to work so you can get stuff.