What The H#ck is Product Design?

Contemporary Design Culture: Week 1

It can be daunting starting a new module, especially when you don’t know what to expect. However through my study of product design and technology, I have learned that no matter the module, if I apply myself to all aspects of the class I stand to gain the most from it.

Before the semester had even started we were asked to find an example of a product that we thought was either designed well or poorly, I was tasked with finding a badly designed product. After racking my brain and searching the whole house for examples, I decided on a product that I use almost everyday and had seen many variations of. The product I brought in was a basic lint roller, this particular product radiates poor design choices in the name of profit. Apart from being uncomfortable to hold and sharp in some areas, the blatant disregard for environmental design is deafening. This was obvious from the cheap, easily breakable material and non-reusable components. Environmental design is something that really interests me and something I find will be at the forefront of all future design. In just one small assignment I was learning from a module that hadn’t even begun yet.

After the general overview of the module, as well as the display and discussion of the good/badly designed products, a question was proposed to the class; “Is Product Design more Art or Engineering?” Well my first thought was “well it’s a mixture of both” however once we were asked to pick definite sides in the form of a moving debate, I had to go with my gut instinct and chose art. Why? Well because design isn’t something that can be calculated or measured it is completely subjective, no two people can look at a design and feel the exact same way about it, art inspires emotion and thought. We then split into sub groups with the aim to convince the opposing side to change their minds. Although both sides made compelling cases the art side made one point that really resonated with me and if anything strengthened my belief that while product design is both art and engineering, art retains a certain hold over engineering. The point being that if you gave a single brief to 20 art students and 20 engineers, you’d only get 21 different solutions back, each artist would have a unique idea whereas every engineer would have the same practical solution. I can’t speak for everyone but when I was filling out my CAO two years ago, I signed up for a course that would not only accept my individuality as a designer but actively encourage me not to think inside the box but to think outside the perspective cube and create something unique.

It’s mind-boggling to find that in, what felt like, a short few hours this had become my favourite module, that I had ever taken part in.