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My gut reaction is that good design inspires. Good design inspires use of the object and allows for the object (the things designed) to _be_ used. Optionally, it can inspire a user to go do something else (like how a paiting or a poem is designed).
Posted by bison @ 06/06/2001 03:32 PM pst
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That's interesting-- I would have said the opposite. Good art inspires, but good design is invisible. Good design allows you to have the pleasure of not noticing the object, but using it. I adore my canon elph, not becuase it is cute as the dickens (and it is) but because it is the perfect design for my use. Small enough to fit in a pocket, light weight, easy to use (once I figured out how to get the defaults set up) it is now the ideal point and shoot in which I never have to think bout anything except "that looks like a good photo."
Same for all my favorite designs... my cuisinart coffee maker allows me to make a pot of perfect coffee that goes into a thermal pot: the coffee stays hot all day without burning, and it even turns itself off. Metro shelfing makes my kitchen more usable, my cost-plus folding bookshelf holds my books and was the easiest thing in my paartment to move.
I'd say great design gets out of the way in the most elegant fasion possible.
Posted by christina @ 06/10/2001 10:53 AM pst
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