The list of products that were recently mentioned in light of creative
design, often have a bittersweet nature to them.
Not wishing to detract from their true status as icons, it is well to think
of their holistic effects:
Apple IMac - ushered in the glut of translucent plastic, that by quality
requirements is not from recycled plastic and supplanted the accepted beige
box computer aesthetic. Overnight, most computers appeared outdated, and
created the desire for replacement and more landfill.
New Volkswagen Beetle - the Californian? studio's take on the VW Golf
platform. Forcing the rear-engined air cooled drive aesthetic of the
classic Porsche Beetle onto a water cooled FWD chassis. This in many ways
is the opposite of form following function - (nice car to look at mind
you).
Aeron Chair - great task seat, great ergonomics, but the cost of such a
chair put them outside the realm of most task users.
Creative as they are and great products from a design point of view, they
highlight another side of design.
The creation of continuous 'want and desire' by trained designers usually
comes at a price. This link was of interest - especially the part on
consumerism:
http://www.anti-naturals.org/manifesto.html
http://www.anti-naturals.org/
Sorry I know little about the movement to be able to comment further on it,
but the images of children/ teenagers sporting tattoos and shaved heads
with things such as the Nike logo are sad reflections on the front end
duopoly of design and marketing.
Glenn Johnson
Industrial Design Manager
Industrial Design Studio, B/E Aerospace Inc.
1455 Fairchild Rd. Winston-Salem NC 27105-4588 USA
Tel. (1) 336 744 3143 Fax. (1) 336 744 3207
B/E Industrial Design Studio
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