Design in Our Lives

We use different kinds of product in our daily life to satisfy ourselves in different ways. As products are made to use in our daily life it is designed by the designer considering human in their mind. The product should be designed to be functional with human body. The study of functionality in design is known as Ergonomics. Each product which is designed for human use has to be functional and comfortable for the user.  Some product has high functionality and some has low. A good design is one which is both functional and ergonomic.

Internotredici Associati (Italian, 1970-1983),  

Carlo Bimbi (Italian, born 1944),

Gianni Ferrara (Italian, born 1928) and

Nilo Giocchini (Italian, born 1946)

"Tuttuno" 

Plywood covered with plastic laminate

Year completed : 1971

The above photograph of the product is in my opinion has high functionality. This is a compact living system named "The Tuttuno" which means All-in-one. It contains a pull-out bed, table, drawers, and shelves below an elevated conversation pit. It is a combination of storage, sleeping and eating area with a place for socializing and relaxing. When bed , table , drawers are not in use they can be slide into the unit and out of sight. This product has high functionality as well as it provide a comfortable stay for the user. So I think this is a good design and ergonomic. 

Team Leaders

Amale Andraos and Dan Wood, WORKac

"Nature-City"

 Project site : Keizer, Oregon

 This is a proposed city in Keizer, Oregon. The proposal is a concept of living within the nature. It will have all the facilities of modern living as well as it will incorporate ecological infrastructure, sky gardens, urban farms, and public open space, including large swaths of restored native habitats. So the city is a combination of urban life with nature. This city is a high functional as because it provides all facilities and a community for sustainable living. It is also ergonomic because of its mixture with nature providing a fresh natural environment. 

Yuya Ushida (Japanese, b. 1975)

XXXX_Sofa

Polyamide

Manufactured by  Royal Ahrend

Manufacture year : 2010

XXXX_Sofa is composed of stud connections with three rings and bars of four different length. The structure is repetitive which makes it able to compress and take less space when no needed. In my opinion the sofa is less functional because it just satisfy the space not the comfort. It is much less comfortable then traditional sofa. So it is not be classified as ergonomic.

A&E Design (Swedish, est. 1968), 

Hans Ehrich (Swedish, born 1942) and

Tom Ahlström (Swedish, born 1943)

"Stockholm II Folding Stool and Stockholm II Trolley"

Aluminum, steel, and fiberglass-reinforced plastic fabric

Year: 1993-94

This stool is in my opinion has low functionality. It is compact and can save space. But it is not comfortable to sit on it for a long time. This may cause health problem. So it is not ergonomic.  

All the four above products are well designed and are functional. Two of them I think are good design and other two are well designed but does not meet the requirement to be good design.