Tuesday, April 26, 2005
hard labor
I've been working hard, the past weeks, at an industrial design class. It seems everything I set about doing takes three times longer than I anticipate. Even after that, I feel unsatisfied with the results. The particular class I am taking is focusing on "abstract" design. Just the kind of design that leaves a user centered practitioner like me rudderless. I have no "best practice" to draw on.
Alas, a jolt of inspiration from one of my favorite designers, Enzo Mari. He notes: "Proper design, on the other hand, begins where there is no model to copy." That is just my problem -- I am frustrated when having no model to copy. But I think of Mari's designs, some of which I proudly own, and I know that despite their simplicity, he must of spent much time figuring how to make it just right, so that it looks effortless in hindsight.
Alas, a jolt of inspiration from one of my favorite designers, Enzo Mari. He notes: "Proper design, on the other hand, begins where there is no model to copy." That is just my problem -- I am frustrated when having no model to copy. But I think of Mari's designs, some of which I proudly own, and I know that despite their simplicity, he must of spent much time figuring how to make it just right, so that it looks effortless in hindsight.
Link to this article. posted by Michael Andrews @ 9:31 PM 
