Lecture 1: What is Design?

January 22nd, 2010

Below is a list of every designed object I touched this morning before leaving for school:

iPod • door handles • knife • drawer handle • hanger • bathroom key • shower fixtures • cutting board • thermostat • light switches • desk • bed • table • chairs • plate • fridge • kitchen sink/faucet • dresser • cup • water pitcher • house keys • back pack • school supplies • towels • cell phone

So then, what is design?

“Design is a plan for arranging elements in such a way as best to

accomplish a particular purpose.” -Charles Eames

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“Design is where science and art break even.” -Robin Mathew

It doesn’t matter if you agree more with Eames or Mathew, both responses are correct. The concept of design is too expansive to pin down with a definition or axiom. Design isn’t about the meaning of a word, but an understanding of many inputs to a single output.

To change, is to create, is to design. Everything beyond natural elements in their environment is designed. The first humans whittled the ends of sticks to design spears. Apple Inc develops technology to design Macs. The spear was designed by changing the shape of the wood to create a weapon. Macs are designed by changing electronic technologies to create computers. The earliest spears were strictly utilitarian objects; the iMac has become so much more than just a computer.

[http://webprojects.prm.ox.ac.uk/arms-and-armour/600/1927.80.1.jpg]

[http://www.digitgeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/apple_imac_20.jpg]

Is one design better than the other? Does it matter that Apple’s products are more visually appealing than the Neanderthals? Design, like most things, is relative. Thousands of years ago, survival was the only thing on the minds of our earliest ancestors; the color of the spear didn’t matter. Survival in today’s dog eat dog world of business requires different, less barbaric, strategies. The symbol of status that accompanies a new iMac is one that showcases success and prosperity, key elements of survival in today’s business world.

In my opinion, good design meets the expected program for a product. I expect a towel to dry me off. If a towel is less absorbent towel than expected and I’m still wet, well, the design is bad. If I expect a handle to open a door and the handle easily breaks, that too is bad design. But, if I’m dry and the door opens the design is good.

Most of our everyday products are good designs: knives, toilets, beds, light switches, etc. But some products are great designs. Once again, the judgment is all relative to the adjudicator’s expectations. I believe my iPod touch is great design: light weight, intuitive and multi-purposeful. But not all great design is an advanced technology. If a knife cuts better than expected and fits your hand ever so perfectly, one may consider it great design.

[http://www.pocketpccentral.net/mp3c/images/ipod/ipod_touch_diagram.jpg]

There you have it. Design is utilitarian, design is aesthetically beautiful. Design is good, design is bad. Design is a creation, a manipulation a product of change. Our taste is certainly subjective, but that is what makes design great.