The objects are created on the bases of the target market and in turn will satisfy them. The object is testified through people in development and manufacturing were they look at the form, material and architecture of the object, to best suit the ergonomics of the person intended to use it. From this great thought process and development of one object in the end will satisfy the consumer. The continuous trial and error process is done for the purpose of the consumer’s satisfaction and comfort.
The development of the interaction of the object with the user, touch, smell, hold, feel etc is considered in all areas of the object, from materials, to form to colour to texture. There are reasons of why an object has a particular groove or shape. However, industrial design’s main focus is on mass production, meaning that objects that are created for consumers are generic, but at the same time, designer’s try to create the object in the sense that it will comfort most of the intended users. As a result designers have come up with STANDARDISING designs for all users. Nevertheless each object that is in one’s home has been designed for a purpose and reason of why they have bought it, such as for the comfort, appearance or function of the object. Each decision of why the object looks like the way it does is because of a cultural, functional, aesthetic, or user reason. Each object has a story developed through the communication of the users and their problems with objects.
It is conveyed in the video that if they design an object for the extremes of the target market, like people with disabilities, or objects with high strength, everyone in between will be satisfied. This process will assist in a better and functional object, which in turn will then satisfy a wider target market. Something that is simple can be improved to create comfort to one’s hand or body, such as people with arthritis. There is a long process of improving and developing the dimensions and grip for one object, getting it to feel better and right, so the best way of doing this is to look, hold and experience the existing product, and discover the pressure points and areas that are creating the problem, such as the areas on one’s hands or body.
Ergonomic is an important factor in redesigning products, were a particular shape of the design can make the experience for the user better, as well as it eliminating extra work put into the use. This will improve the way people use an object and therefore help them experience a chore in a more fun and comfortable way. However there are designs today that are unnecessary, if every designer looked not just the need and cost of a product but the user’s wants in aesthetics and function it will help them in discovering the ergonomic aspect of the product. We are constantly looking at existing products and asking ourselves why is the object like this and not like that. Reasoning behind this is so we can discover the problematic aspect and help us create the object more functional, especially ergonomically for humans.
What really fascinated me is that designers from the Apple company have gone further than just looking at the function, by making their process of parts of a product in one part, so they have the ability to make their designs more comforting, as they try to find other easier and effective ways in their assembling so as to improve ergonomics of a part, such as a products slimness. However in this new day and age, designers are getting more interactive designs not through form but the functionality of the object, especially with the introduction of technology.
Looking at rituals of the objects use too helps designers give reason and guidance to the form of the object, but more than that by looking at the interaction and experience between the human and object. An example is the Dyson vacuum, were there is a strong focus on the function, expressed in the form, but with the use of texture and colour, the designer has enhanced the ritual of the vacuum.
However, the biggest questioned asked to designers is, what is the form the object should take? When this question was stated, it made me ponder that to get the form it is important to understand the people and make them feel good in the environment designed.
Marc Newson states that”dissatisfaction motivates you to do what we do”. In this sense something with discomfort or irritation to users, will aspire the designer to fix it and experiment with other materials in order to satisfy the user. But at the same time good design is something that you want, however, the idea of mass production agencies and shops, don’t just want the element of good ergonomically design but they want new stuff, so consumers can buy it. This idea made me consider that design shouldn’t be about the amount of money a retailer wants from a consumer, but the idea of an object being made for a purpose, which is contradicted with the consumer’s want of new things.
The video mentions that it is important to be aware of emotional authenticity in an object, and how the user views the object and if they find what it expresses to them. The idea of creation is also the idea of seeing what the user wants the object to be in the future, something that is wanted or something that just fades in time. The object has to reflect the user, so they will be encouraged to buy and use the object, as well as reflect an experience or memory from the object.
Even though the revolution of technology has changed the way objects are made, used and function, it is juxtaposed in the sense that we still use the old processed of objects, such as wooden chairs, which don’t connect with the technological world. This is surprising, to develop objects for this day and age designers look back at the original model of the object, such as the camera, but only adapt the technology of new processes or electronic components in the design keeping the form the same. Designers are focused on the making and effect of change, incorporated in their design, with the addition of an interaction design as a key to interact their objects with the users. It is important to see that designers are aware of the interaction and ergonomics of the object with the users and at the same time that users are subconsciously interacting with design.
It is surprising that designer’s are only creating for 10% of the world population that have already too much stuff. So it has become aware to us as designers that there is an implication of the amount of objects designed and their effect on the environment. They are looking at sustainability as a key factor in their design. Apart from focusing on the design of objects, it had astonished me that communication between countries has highly influenced design to develop and change based on the circumstances of people and the effect of survival it has on their world. The value of the object can be sentimental, people will choose these objects in desperate times, for the reasons of value, remembrance and authentic, not because of new and developed.
I recommend this video to Industrial Designers to watch, to give them an insight on what they can potentially do to products that are designed and therefore be redesigned for the ergonomic purpose as well as the reason of need, function and aesthetics. Designing have developed due to the interaction that designers see with their users, especially technological development and being aware of sustainability.
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