What actually is good design?
This is a question I ask myself all the time and it seems to be ever evolving.
Sure good design is timeless, but how is something 'good design' if it does not have the opportunity to be timeless?
Is timeless design still achievable?
Many people speak of good quality as if it were made up of good workmanship and good materials alone: but without good design it is impossible to make the most of these qualities. Good design, indeed, is an essential part of a standard of quality. Without it, the manufacturer cannot give the best service, through his products, to the consumer – to the community of which he is himself a part and from which he derives his livelihood.
What does the consumer demand in a manufactured article? He demands something which is well made of good and suitable materials, which does its job efficiently and gives him pleasure, at a price he can afford to pay. So the first design question is “Does it work?” you have all seen clocks with hour and minute hands so similar that it is not easy to tell the time, teapots which do not pour well, kettles which burn your hand, handles which pinch your fingers. These are all examples of bad design, and there are many others. Although Phillipe Starcks juicer that cannot juice and actually ruins the product if it is used the way it is designed to be used is considered good design. It is more common to be seen in the living room on display rather than in the kitchen.
