Good Design=Good Smiles

According to design critic Don Norman, there are three ways that design can make you happy.

1). Viscerally

2.) Behaviorally

3.)Reflectively

What exactly do this three things mean? I don't quite understand even with thorough explanation. What I interpreted was this:

            We know something is of good design when it can make you happy. Also; we think, act, and design better when we are happy. Apparently a person given candy was more eager and ready to design things than a person without candy. The way we are happy in functioning in everyday situations is all dependent on how comfortable we are working with the tools we have. These tools are the things that make our everyday lives functional. For example, a car that gets us to and from work. The video of Don Norman had a good example of a Mini Cooper and its fun style both inside and out. Although not very practical for your daily commuter, this English toy car brings a smile on the faces of those who like quirky and aesthetically pleasing controls. 

          Referring to behavior, I believe Don Norman was talk about unspoken actions and reactions. These actions and reactions that are inevitable in our everyday lives need tending to. For example, when I flush the toilet, I expect the handle to be of the same stature and in the same place as usual. If it wasn't this design would not be making me happy and I would avoid using this toilet again( Maybe thats just me). We do things subconsciously all day everyday, and whether or not our possessions can tend to these actions and reactions, determines the quality of the design.

         Reflectively speaking.... Does this design say "This is me". We tend to choose things of design that consciously reflect or depict our everyday lifestyles. I wouldn't want to pick clothes that are not my style. Am I right?

Color Police

After my last blog I showed a prime example of a good design in the Modern Day Windmill. Now I am going to give you a good look at an almost opposite spectrum; bad color schemes and layouts. 

"Hello, this is the color police what is your emergency?"

In this picture we see the two images side by side that are a weak chroma with some of the same hues. These two images go well together. Then, we see the background and notice it is a very strong chroma. These opposite chromas really make you squint as if you were looking into the sun.

In this picture to the right we have harmonious chromas for the most part. On the other hand, we see way too many colors and hues at the same time. The design of this advertisement also enhances the horrific colors. I don't know which thing to look at first. This leaves me uninterested, there for not a potential costumer. Overall this is just a bad set of colors for an advertisement.

Dieter Rams Ten Principles of "Good Design"

 What Is Good Design?

Modern-Day Windmill fields

        In Class we learned about what makes a design "good". Many people have their own interpretations on what good design is. According to Dieter Rams there are ten different principles to use in order to interpret design. The ten questions to think about when using these principles are; Is the product Innovative? Is it Useful? Is it Aesthetically pleasing? Is it Understandable? Is it Unobtrusive? Is it Honest (My Think and Make teachers favorite)? Is it Long-Lasting? Thorough in Detail? Is it Environmentally Friendly? Is as little design as possible used (the simplicity)? 

        Each of these principles pose their' own unique way of viewing design. With them, I learned different aspects and view points of the way things are created and utilized. My favorite example of Good Design I brought to class to share was the Modern-Day Windmill. The design of the New Windmill is ingenious. It provides a sleek new design that is more simple and aesthetically pleasing then the original design of a "Farmer's" windmill. While some might find the old wooden windmills more unique and "pretty", the modern day windmill produces larger quantities of energy and are used for the masses instead of personal use. With the 10 Principles of Dieter Rams, I have learned to analyze more thoroughly the design of objects such as the Modern-Day Windmill. This design for example, touches base with a few of the Principles such as; Environmentally friendly, Little design, Innovative, etc.