mundane + brilliant

An ongoing field survey of the our designed world by alex diener.

[alexdiener]

everything looks better in chrome

Take a look at your bathroom counter- it's a series of little, typically loud, billboards.  The product graphics are designed to make sure you pick them off the shelf and recognize them the next time you go shopping.   

It's nice when a brand strips elements away- it's something Muji has placed at the forefront of their design strategy.  Their focus is to create an aura of simplicity through clear product gestures, interactions, and graphics. 

This strategy works extremely well in Japan where your personal space is small, so every square inch counts and the ability to remove things from sight is not always an option. 

By removing the extraneous, and focusing on the core elements, it makes for a beautiful product- even if it's just a tube of toothpaste.

[alexdiener]

everything looks better in molded pulp

Recently I opened up the new Xbox One controller and was greeted by this inside.  Sometimes the packaging is just as striking as the the object itself.

The molded pulp process just seems to have made a huge jump in a short five years.  Industry knew the days of foam were numbered and pulp is a pretty attractive alternative.  Paper waste is cheap, abundant, and globally available.   Improved surface finish and detail will open up this process to a wide range of new applications in the future. 

[alexdiener]

The Sarpaneva Cast Iron Pot

Timo Sarpaneva designed his iconic pot in 1960.  It quickly became a classic in his native Finland and it's popularity has only increased globally in the decades since. 

The materials really make this design sing. If this was designed today, the pressure to give it a silicone handle and a teflon-coated steel body would be huge.  Sure, it would be easier to clean, but it would lose it's soul and primal appeal.  The steel and wood will age gracefully, despite the nicks and bruises of daily use.  Wear in, not wear out. 

Form-wise, nothing feels arbitrary.  The main body of the pot, the lid, and the handle feel are in balance and clearly indicates function.  While the steel body feels utilitarian, the wood handle gives it some levity that is both unexpected and inviting. 

This design is inspirational on so many levels: form that is reduced but still expressive, a refinement of the experience, and honest use of materials.  Thanks Timo.

[alexdiener]

[alexdiener]

[alexdiener]

3D Printing// Not Just for Desk Ornaments Anymore

While the product development community has been using 3D printing technology for prototyping for years, mainstream consumer applications have been few and far between.  Aside from printing desk ornaments, such as Sad Keanu. (image: Shapeways)

Maybe the streamlined product pipeline in the developed world is working against 3D printing...  It's easy for us to find a product on Amazon and have it here the next day, but in the developing world things aren't quite as simple. 

The SF-based education group KidMob seems to have realized this.  They've set up shop in Haiti under the name iLab//Haiti.  Their team is working with Haitians to find applications for 3D printing that solve problems.  (images: iLab//Haiti)

A great case in point:  printing medical hardware that is broken or in short supply.  A designer could quickly reverse engineer a part and have a workable solution in hours.  There are problems with this approach (bio-compatibility, patient safety, etc), but these are challenging circumstances to say the least.  Good on them for bringing hands-on action to Haiti. 

Learn more about them and consider showing some support for them here:  http://www.ilabhaiti.org/  

Their parent organization:  http://kidmob.org/

[alexdiener]

The Olfa SVR-2 // Utility is Beautiful

Every time I pick up the Olfa, it reminds me of how good design can be.  This blade is completely happy to go it's entire life unnoticed, working reliably with minimal upkeep while maximizing performance and aesthetics.  Replacing blades is cake- and re-assembly is just as easy.

It's sturdy bent metal chassis won't chip, fade, or break like plastic.  If it does happen to suffer untimely damage, it's easily disassembled and thrown in the recycle bin ready for it's next life.  Brilliant.