Comments on: Thinking design:A pencil, a ruler, and a cup of coffee (Part 1) http://www.redhatmagazine.com/2007/02/13/thinking-designa-pencil-a-ruler-and-a-cup-of-coffee/ Red Hat Magazine Fri, 8 Aug 2008 20:48:27 +0000 http://lyceum.ibiblio.org/?v=1.0.2 by: Vasyu http://www.redhatmagazine.com/2007/02/13/thinking-designa-pencil-a-ruler-and-a-cup-of-coffee/#comment-111935 Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:46:26 +0000 http://www.redhatmagazine.com/2007/02/13/thinking-designa-pencil-a-ruler-and-a-cup-of-coffee/#comment-111935 s1NF57 Vasyu testit vasyu.net s1NF57 Vasyu testit vasyu.net

]]> by: Greg http://www.redhatmagazine.com/2007/02/13/thinking-designa-pencil-a-ruler-and-a-cup-of-coffee/#comment-6542 Wed, 16 May 2007 08:31:28 +0000 http://www.redhatmagazine.com/2007/02/13/thinking-designa-pencil-a-ruler-and-a-cup-of-coffee/#comment-6542 A term that sends a shudder through me every time I hear it is the term 'Designer'. Not when it's used in its normal noun form but when it's used as an adjective, as in: 'Designer jeans'. No doubt it also started out as a noun - referring to some famous but unnamed designer. In its debased form, it summarises a low brow commercial exploitation of a calling with much higher aspirations. I suspect (forgive me if this is too patronising or simplistic) that Stewart is railing against products which have been dusted with the sloppy, shallow version of 'designer' - something flashy, black & curvy, covered in a plethora of competing fonts detailing, for all to see, all the meaningless specs and protocols imaginable but not a hint of real design. As a trained product designer (now working as a software ergonomist), I would contend that good design is good design and a product, graphic, fashion will stand or fall on its implicit suitability for a task and aesthetic attraction. Sometimes one can forgive (a little) a functional shortcoming of a beautiful object or make do with a functional, utilitarian but ugly object. But, the notion that anyone can be a designer is a delusion. People who say that are revealing more about their misunderstanding of design than they are about either their own polymathic skills ;o) or their insight into an apparently easy discipline. My challenge to anyone who thinks they could easily be a designer is: Design an elegant yet robust modern stacking conference hall chair (max 10 to 15 in a stack), that is economical to buy in bulk and is easy to repair (modular parts). Good luck! A term that sends a shudder through me every time I hear it is the term ‘Designer’. Not when it’s used in its normal noun form but when it’s used as an adjective, as in: ‘Designer jeans’. No doubt it also started out as a noun - referring to some famous but unnamed designer. In its debased form, it summarises a low brow commercial exploitation of a calling with much higher aspirations. I suspect (forgive me if this is too patronising or simplistic) that Stewart is railing against products which have been dusted with the sloppy, shallow version of ‘designer’ - something flashy, black & curvy, covered in a plethora of competing fonts detailing, for all to see, all the meaningless specs and protocols imaginable but not a hint of real design. As a trained product designer (now working as a software ergonomist), I would contend that good design is good design and a product, graphic, fashion will stand or fall on its implicit suitability for a task and aesthetic attraction. Sometimes one can forgive (a little) a functional shortcoming of a beautiful object or make do with a functional, utilitarian but ugly object. But, the notion that anyone can be a designer is a delusion. People who say that are revealing more about their misunderstanding of design than they are about either their own polymathic skills ;o) or their insight into an apparently easy discipline.

My challenge to anyone who thinks they could easily be a designer is:
Design an elegant yet robust modern stacking conference hall chair (max 10 to 15 in a stack), that is economical to buy in bulk and is easy to repair (modular parts).

Good luck!

]]> by: Stewart Eyres http://www.redhatmagazine.com/2007/02/13/thinking-designa-pencil-a-ruler-and-a-cup-of-coffee/#comment-727 Thu, 01 Mar 2007 02:33:23 +0000 http://www.redhatmagazine.com/2007/02/13/thinking-designa-pencil-a-ruler-and-a-cup-of-coffee/#comment-727 I still come across plenty of "designs" that don't meet the function required though - and the other side of the challenge is to ensure that in an environment where design is valued function is not neglected - for down that route lies a backlash against design. (I'm not a designer but given a pencil and a ruler I can do design - I'd just rather someone else did.) I still come across plenty of “designs” that don’t meet the function required though - and the other side of the challenge is to ensure that in an environment where design is valued function is not neglected - for down that route lies a backlash against design. (I’m not a designer but given a pencil and a ruler I can do design - I’d just rather someone else did.)

]]> by: Goldstein http://www.redhatmagazine.com/2007/02/13/thinking-designa-pencil-a-ruler-and-a-cup-of-coffee/#comment-726 Thu, 01 Mar 2007 02:30:17 +0000 http://www.redhatmagazine.com/2007/02/13/thinking-designa-pencil-a-ruler-and-a-cup-of-coffee/#comment-726 Yes, Design is a real big factor for the success of Red Hat, and Linux. Apple showed how to achieve success with design. Maybe Red Hat should also start thinking about the advertising space the system offers ;-> - see the figures of Google... I mean there could be an option to turn on advertising in the system, to support open source. Yes, Design is a real big factor for the success of Red Hat, and Linux. Apple showed how to achieve success with design. Maybe Red Hat should also start thinking about the advertising space the system offers ;-> - see the figures of Google… I mean there could be an option to turn on advertising in the system, to support open source.

]]> by: Chuck McGuire http://www.redhatmagazine.com/2007/02/13/thinking-designa-pencil-a-ruler-and-a-cup-of-coffee/#comment-717 Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:57:41 +0000 http://www.redhatmagazine.com/2007/02/13/thinking-designa-pencil-a-ruler-and-a-cup-of-coffee/#comment-717 It's true, all you "need" is a flat light colored rock and some charcoal from the fire and you are a "designer". I could design a perfectly utilitarian house, and for that matter, build it too, but I am not a designer. No one will publish coffee table books about any house that I am likely to design. No school of architecture will be named after me. A great designer somehow invokes passion in the viewer, whether they design jewelry or locomotives. And that is why Porsche and Ferrari continue to exist, along with Boyd Coddington and his like. It’s true, all you “need” is a flat light colored rock and some charcoal from the fire and you are a “designer”. I could design a perfectly utilitarian house, and for that matter, build it too, but I am not a designer. No one will publish coffee table books about any house that I am likely to design. No school of architecture will be named after me. A great designer somehow invokes passion in the viewer, whether they design jewelry or locomotives. And that is why Porsche and Ferrari continue to exist, along with Boyd Coddington and his like.

]]> by: Johannes Rexx http://www.redhatmagazine.com/2007/02/13/thinking-designa-pencil-a-ruler-and-a-cup-of-coffee/#comment-695 Wed, 28 Feb 2007 22:52:32 +0000 http://www.redhatmagazine.com/2007/02/13/thinking-designa-pencil-a-ruler-and-a-cup-of-coffee/#comment-695 This book "The Design of Everyday Things" was previously published under the title "The Psychology of Everyday Things" written by the same author. Sneaky huh? This book “The Design of Everyday Things” was previously published under the title “The Psychology of Everyday Things” written by the same author. Sneaky huh?

]]> by: BillM http://www.redhatmagazine.com/2007/02/13/thinking-designa-pencil-a-ruler-and-a-cup-of-coffee/#comment-669 Wed, 28 Feb 2007 20:47:14 +0000 http://www.redhatmagazine.com/2007/02/13/thinking-designa-pencil-a-ruler-and-a-cup-of-coffee/#comment-669 "Business leaders speak the language of reliablity." - but only if they don't know how to spell *reliability* Great article - without elegance in design, anything reduces down to a hack. :) “Business leaders speak the language of reliablity.” - but only if they don’t know how to spell *reliability*

Great article - without elegance in design, anything reduces down to a hack. :)

]]> by: J Batey http://www.redhatmagazine.com/2007/02/13/thinking-designa-pencil-a-ruler-and-a-cup-of-coffee/#comment-644 Wed, 28 Feb 2007 17:47:22 +0000 http://www.redhatmagazine.com/2007/02/13/thinking-designa-pencil-a-ruler-and-a-cup-of-coffee/#comment-644 I believe individuals who think a pencil, ruler and cup of coffee make a designer would be well advised to read Donald Norman: "The Design of Everyday Things" I believe individuals who think a pencil, ruler and cup of coffee make a designer would be well advised to read Donald Norman: “The Design of Everyday Things”

]]> by: hayes http://www.redhatmagazine.com/2007/02/13/thinking-designa-pencil-a-ruler-and-a-cup-of-coffee/#comment-303 Tue, 20 Feb 2007 12:52:53 +0000 http://www.redhatmagazine.com/2007/02/13/thinking-designa-pencil-a-ruler-and-a-cup-of-coffee/#comment-303 well done. well done.

]]> by: University Update http://www.redhatmagazine.com/2007/02/13/thinking-designa-pencil-a-ruler-and-a-cup-of-coffee/#comment-185 Tue, 13 Feb 2007 17:51:13 +0000 http://www.redhatmagazine.com/2007/02/13/thinking-designa-pencil-a-ruler-and-a-cup-of-coffee/#comment-185 <strong>Thinking design:A pencil, a ruler, and a cup of coffee</strong> Thinking design:A pencil, a ruler, and a cup of coffee

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