Wednesday, 29 August 2007
Happy Design
I found this late one night whilst scouring TED for some inspiration, and wow, Sagmeister gave me just what I needed. It really brings into question the purpose of design in our lives. How it effects all that see it. Whether or not it is responsible for our current moods, our life decisions and ultimately our happiness. I thought I would share it and gather some opinions. Comment away.
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6 comments:
Really enjoyed the lecture, I had never really equated design with contentment or happiness. But now thinking about it an object well designed does bring contentment. I have several items of hifi equipment stored in my garage, they don't function any longer but I find it difficult to part with them, they still have a value to me despite their uselessness.
I am sure as some stage I will get rid of these items but as yet they still bring me happiness and so gather dust in storage.
Of course my pleasure may be in unconscience rememberance of memories associated with these items but isn't that what good advertising is supposed to achieve.
Sagmeister is the man. The end seems a little bit misplaced.
The question is: are we simulating the responses we want, or, are we evoking them?
(http://www.beaubergeron.com)
---shameless plug
Rio, we miss you in the States!
First of all, how in the heck is it that I never came across THAT lecture before, considering I thought I had seen just about every video on TED, let alone every video even remotely about design.
I think every project I have ever done, and most projects of others into which I had some insight, always had that little element, sometimes hidden, sometimes blatant, that made the designer happy. Who has actually ever done a series of spreads or logos, without having one be funny in a daring way. In concepting stages we come up with straightforwardly funny concepts that usually end up on the backburner because of the fact that they have funny parts.
Lets try to really get them to integrate and I bet their inclusion will make each of our projects be much more fun overall, and will more than liklely amuse the recipient just like those subway signs would amuse the rider.
Hello Rianna!
Really enjoyed the Sagmeister conference video.
My view, (almost fully formulated!) is that people who actively appreciate good, effective design are enriched by the design of objects around them...both aesthetically and practically. This has to be in balance in most cases though, unless the object has some nostalgia or stigma attached to it that makes you overlook its 'bad' design, e.g. sentimental object.
People that do not consider the design of objects around them a great deal will often only respond to poor design. They will not actively recognise good product/packaging design, but will pick up on poorly designed examples and be negatively affected by this.
The books I mentioned by Donald A. Norman is entitled 'Emotional Design' and 'Design of Everyday Things'...although the former was most informative in my dissertation.
I could continue and will if you so require! Good luck!
Mark
Being interested and involved in design and the arts means my view point here may well be biased.
However, I do believe that everybody is emotionally influenced in some way by the design around them. This may be subconscious - it has been proven, for example, that certain colours can cause alterations in the moods of those around them.
People work better in environments that are well designed; a person in a light, spacious and well thought out office space will in most cases be happier in their environment than an employee in a badly planned concrete box.
We pay out good money, (often more than we can afford) for designer clothes, and why? For their comfort? Maybe, but also for their design, their designer label, and further for their symbolic status of wealth and achievement.
How far a design influences the happiness of a person is dependent on their interest in its aesthetics; as Mark mentions, people are quick to find fault but not so quick to praise. Packaging is one area that can definitely cause both stress (too much plastic, too little plastic, "I can't get in the damn thing") and contentment if it works. But downright happiness? I think this is limited to people who really feel the design, rather than all who see or use it.
In conclusion, I think that Sagmeister's scale of happiness in design is extremely important. For a designer, a successful and well executed piece can cause genuine elation - but to the majority of people a successful piece of design will cause contentment and comfort but probably not much more.
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