Design in Society

Utopian designs are products that aim to help society. These designs do not have to be extremely high tech or life-changing; many are very simple and easy to use. I found an example of a utopian design online that sparked my imagination and definitely intrigued me. It is a very simple concept that wouldnt necessarily change the world, but I believe it is an excellent idea and would be useful to a large amount of the population.

http://peoplesdesignaward.cooperhewitt.org/2010/nominee/2366

This product is a backpack that features lights on the exterior that describe which way the user is turning or if they are stopping, while biking down a road or through a city. This backpack would definitely improve the safety of consumers and would be very practical to use in busy towns. Living in Davis, a city with an insane number of bicyclists, I know how dangerous it is to travel around town on a bicycle, especially at night. This product would definitely be useful and would improve the safety of many people, which would be beneficial to society in general. Sometimes it is the small details and ideas that are realistic in improving society. When combined, these simple findings create a large impact on the world and the attitudes of consumers. Instead of society waiting for dramatic changes and constantly being disappointed when the results do not meet their expectations, they should take pleasure in the little things and appreciate all of the useful design that is around them.

Impact of Color in Design

Josef Albers took optical illusions into careful consideration when evaluating the effects of color interaction. One occurence that he explores, that I find particularly interesting, is the Bezold effect. It was first discovered by a German professor of meteorology, Wilhelm von Bezold. The effect, also referred to as the "assimilation effect," is an optical illusion where a color's hue or value is affected by the color or colors surrounding it. The Bezold effect is the opposite of 'simultaneous color contrast', in which a color takes on the complimentary hue and contrasting brightness of its surroundings. Using the Bezold effect, color may appear different depending on its relation to adjacent colors. For example, a group of red lines surrounded by black will appear darker than a group of red lines surrounded by white. This occurs because the colored regions assimilate their border color. This effect is often used in the design of carpets and other textiles. It is also present, and very easy to use, in graphic designs and logos. I enjoy this effect and think it wold make effective and interesting designs because it causes the viewer to analyze what they are seeing. It causes viewers to look past a first glance and look at the subject in depth, which is how designers want society to view their work.

Design is Dangerous

When I think of a dangerous design, there is one design that comes immediately to mind: pole pruners. A 'pole pruner' is essentially a chainsaw attached to a long stick that is used to cut high branches on trees. I think it is quite obvious how dangerous this tool is. One mistake by a consumer can be fatal: someone slipping, someone getting knocked over, a branch falling, etc. Another hazard that this design poses is that it is not insulated. In other words, if a user accidentally cuts a power line while trimming their tree, they will be electrocuted and could very easily die. One thing that shocked me the most is that this product is supplied by many companies and it is not necessary to be a professional in order to purchase it. The only benefit from using a pole pruner is that the consumer can cut hard to reach branches, when it would be dangerous to use a regular chainsaw while standing on a ladder. However, I do not think that this one pro justifies the dangers and potential fatality that can arise from using this product.

Designs by Vadim Kibardin

I was searching the web when I came across work by designer Vadim Kibardin. I was immediately struck be his designs because they are extremely modern and interesting. One of his designs is a black and white clock in the form of four independent figures that give the representation of digital numbers. Each has their own power source and control. The clock also detects light using a sensor and will switch from white to black automatically depending on how much light is in the room. They can also be fixed to any surface autonomously. Overall i think this is a great design because, although it is very modern and advanced, it is designed to seem very simple and give the effect of an old plain digital clock.

Another design my Kibardin is an umbrella in the form of a folder that can be hidden in a briefcase or backpack. It is relatively large and has an interesting shape that collapses into a simple 8 by 10 folder. I like this design because it is very modern and easily accessible. Users do not have to carry a bulky umbrella around with them to work or school. Instead, they can have an extremely lightweight and small design with them that is easy to transport.

Convenience in Design

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Ergonomics of Macbooks

Apple has always been known for making sleek and effective designs. Ergonomics is an important factor any major company's products. Ergonomics is defined as 'the applied science of equipment design, as for the workplace, intended to maximize productivity by reducing operator fatigue and discomfort'. The main characteristics that define a designs ergonomic quality are safety, comfort, ease of use, performance and aesthetics. Macbooks definitely address each of these properties and are also consistently given outstanding ratings.

After a certain amount of research, I found that although Macbooks are convenient and aesthetically pleasing, some of their designs did not meet the proper amounts of safety necessary. For example, Macbooks use a Magsafe power adapter, which uses a magnet to keep the power chord in place while the computer is charging. There have been reports of computers catching on fire while the consumers were sleeping. Although the design of the MagSafe adapter is great, adjustments must be made in order to make it more secure and safe. Safety must be considered more important than convenience. However, this is the only problem that has been a concern for this product and it is not a common occurrence.

Regarding comfort, Macbooks are probably one of the most successful laptop designs, according to consumers. Macbooks are designed very sleek and are relatively light. There are no bulky battery packs and the body of the computer allows for ample wrist room. The Trackpad allows users to do a vast amount of functions very easily, determining what the user wants done by detecting how many fingers are on the the pad. This also ties into another important aspect of ergonomics; ease of use. Macbooks, as well as most apple products, excel at this particular field.

Apple is one of the most successful companies in the world because its designs are so advanced and innovative, yet they are extremely easy to navigate. The long lasting battery life means that users are not constantly limited to having their computer constantly charging and are more free to travel. The keyboard is also extremely easy to use and greatly avoid hand cramping, due to the spaced out keys that are not bunched right next to each other like most laptops. Each key is also backlit and the user can control how bright they want the keys or screen at any given time.

Macbooks are also consistently rated excellently on their performance. This is because they are extremely fast compared to most laptops in the market and they also have an extensive amount of storage space. They are also known for having a relatively fast charge time, when compared with its battery capacity as well as excellent graphics. This can also lead into the final aspect of ergonomics, aesthetics.

Regarding aesthetics, there is no match to the Apple Macbook. It is very modern and sleek, particularly the Macbook Pro. The Macbook pro features an aluminum body that is one solid piece of metal. Not only is it aesthetically pleasing, but it is also very sturdy. It also has black keys and a very bright, clear screen. The battery also fits into the rectangular design of the body so there is no bulk and it rests easily on any surface. Although these laptops have a very simple design, they are extremely intricate and advanced internally.

Overall, Macbooks have a decent

design, ergonomically. There could be more attention to safety, rather than placing so much importance on convenience and aesthetics. Despite this lack of ergonomics, Macbooks are rated very well by consumers and, although they have minor problems, they are considered one of the top products and designs in the market. This could identify that there are more beneficial ergonomic properties in the laptop that allow consumers to overlook the minor errors, which displays the success of the overall design of the Macbook.

Futuristic Designs

As more and more technology is created, more designs must be created as well. There are so many products available to consumers that designers are forced to create their very best and appealing designs, in order to catch the attention of the public. An example of an industry that adapts and changes designs everyday is the cellular phone industry. New phones are released every month, each product more advanced than the next. Verizon and Apple are a good example of the battle of design and technology in the industry. Each company attempts to create the sleekest, most aesthetic, and most technologically advanced product in the market. This competition in the industry has forced other companies to keep coming up with more ideas that are unexpected and interesting, in order to capture some of the consumers attention. An example of this adaptation is a new concept by Nokia. Nokia created a cell phone that charges itself using body heat. Instead of plugging your phone in overnight, you could simply put it in your pocket as you walk out the door. Not only is this product green, which is a becoming a growing importance in the design community, but it is also very well designed. It is aesthetically pleasing and well and technologically advanced.

More information about this product can be found at this website: http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1IohFh/inhabitat.com/2010/10/07/nokia-new-concept-phone-lets-you-re-charge-in-your-pocket/