To mitigate the environmental impact of waste generated by fast-moving consumer goods, several reusable alternatives to single-use products have entered the market, gaining increasing popularity. It is crucial to ensure that these alternatives are reused frequently enough to compensate for their higher environmental footprint during production compared to single-use products. Drawing on prior research, we developed a range of practical tools and exercises to assist design students and professionals in developing reusable solutions that have a greater likelihood of long-term success. The tools were implemented within a 6-week sustainable design course, engaging 87 students, with the aim of evaluating the efficacy of the tools in enhancing the eco-design process and quality of outcomes in terms of long-term use. To assess this, we conducted a survey with the participating students after completion of the course. The results revealed that more than one-third of the designs were product–service systems designed to extend the product lifetime and tailored to specific types of users. The students expressed that they learned new ways of reasoning to design for sustainability. Additionally, from the teachers’ perspective, the students exhibited a deeper understanding of the particular context and challenges than students in the same course in the previous years. Building upon this initial exploration, our plans include expanding the user journey exercise to a ‘lifetime journey’, enabling exploration and comparison of various potential timelines. Moreover, we intend to evaluate the tools with design professionals, and with more specific predefined target groups and cases. Future research should also focus more on the nuance between habitual, routine and one-time usage of a product.