Posted by Nancy Grossbart
Lately, I find myself waxing philosophical about great product design and what it really means. I voraciously devour articles and blogs on the subject, finding that the writings that affect some inner space inside me are the ones that make the most sense. Knowing great product design is probably more emotional than anything else.
Dan Harden's article at Fastcompany.com about the Disappearing Act of Good Design affected me that way. In his blog, he says.
When a product is so completely and rightly designed, it has aesthetic and functional elements that are clearly stated and obvious. The product itself communicates without words its utilitarian value, ease of use, and beauty, and you perceive the quality-contributing elements instantly.... When a product does all the above things well, instead of it having abundant presence like one would expect, it actually sort of disappears when you use it.
What this means to me is the best product designs are ones you love instantly and then take for granted (in a good way) after you incorporate them into your everyday life. Harden uses the examples of the iPhone, a Porsche, an Aeron Chair. All of these are great designs that we admire whether we own one or not.
As a manufacturer of injection molded polyolefin and EVA foam, we have worked with some really great product developers and product designers. One customer, in particular, made the development process extremely difficult by creating five different designs (five molds) over a two to three year period before settling on the final design. As you can imagine, from a manufacturer's perspective, we were both frustrated with the process and anxious to be in production. However, when the 5th design came out of the mold, it was astoundingly beautiful both in aesthetics and function. It was hard to remember ever being frustrated, which only emphasizes Harden's take on this.
There is unity and wholeness, and it is so evident that this thing will totally satisfy a physical and/or emotional need....The product becomes a subconsciously satisfying experience, not a heavy conscious thing that demands attention because it's pretty or different...
I recently heard a story about Holly Hunter, the Academy Award Winning Actress, who is starring in the TV series "Saving Grace". One of the directors is a friend of a friend. The director said "She is so frustrating. I have a budget to meet and every time I OK a scene, ready to move on, Holly always asks for one more take insisting that she can do it better. Reluctantly, I agree and every time she is right. She adds that something extra that makes it amazing."
Obviously, this doesn't relate directly to product design or molded foam or foam manufacturing. It does, however, relate to the truth that when creativity is right, it's just right.
Posted by Nancy Grossbart
When I went on an interview for a marketing job at a TV station, early in my career, I was asked that age-old question "What are your five-year goals?" I sat there very quietly, not answering, for way longer than was comfortable for either of us. I kept thinking what are my five year goals...what about three year...do I even have one year goals? Tick..tick..tick. What am I going to answer?
Finally, the silence was so long, so pregnant, I blurted out this long stream-of -consciousness mind-dump, "I have no goals. Well, it's not that I really have no goals. It's that my goals are always changing as I get more experience and I don't want to create a goal for something that, six months from now, I will change my mind about."
The interviewer sat looking at me as if she had never heard anything like it before.I stared back nervously thinking I had totally screwed up my chances for this job but couldn't make up goals I didn't have. Finally, she said, "I like that answer because that's how life really works. You're hired!"
Well, that's not exactly how it happened. There was a lot more discussion before the "you're hired" part actually happened. What was most important is that I got the job because she really understood how I saw the concept of goals.
When I think about it, it's very similar to the creative process. You start your product development cycle with set goals that must be met. However, when you're actually involved in the product design itself, you can start with one concept that takes you to the next, and then the next and the one after that. And when it is all over, you end up in a place that you love, but never expected.
Look at me. I ended up in business development at an injection molded foam company. It really goes to prove that life is a creative adventure, one creation after another.