Anti Design



This blue block on side of car is anti-bump urethane sponge coming with brand new Hyundai car.

It is to protect cars on side and keep the car clean as possible before delivery. These are supposed to be removed when a car is delivered. But in many cases, customers love this urethane block and keep it for a while. Even though it make new car ugly, drivers believe it help to keep new car clean.

From designer viewpoint, that urethane block hurts beauty of car design. It is anti-design. You can find similar case every where in gadgets. Almost every note PC user keep Intel Centrino and Microsoft windows XP ready sticker on palm rest. Many walkman users keep feature sticker (ex. 32hour long Li ion battery) on it. I'm sure any designer wants to have such an unnecessary sticker when draw rendering and making a mockup model. All stickers come for marketing reason. Many iPod user sbuy iPod because of sleek design. But really many iPod users put their iPod into protector which make iPod thick and ugly as soon as out of box.

SO WHAT?
Anyway, people love it and keep it as possible. I observe and name it as "Honey moon" phase. Until having heart breaking first scratch, people want to enjoy mint condition of the product.
Why don't industrial designers make a beautiful add-on protector if people really want to protect good design? For example, first layer of product should be sleek, slim, minimal and cool. The second layer can cover all vulnerable surface with more a variety of materials. I believe designer should have final touch for a product. Don't let marketers ruin your design anymore.

Reference
If Microsoft makes iPod

Comments

Anonymous said…
I totally agree. What I don't like about some of ipod accessories, it really ruins the original shape with the excuse of keeping the product.
Fri Jul 07, 12:39:00 AM PDT
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