There is a lack of creativity in design. Everything we see is so set in stone. How often is an advertisement or the way a chair or building is designed, really that memorable? Almost every second, we are being impacted by thousand of different advertisements products, brands, all trying to shape who we are and what we believe. But do we ever really remember even a few of the advertisements that we see? The best example I can think of for me personally is a car designed by Ford called the Galaxy.
When I was in Germany with my family in 2011, we rented a minivan on base. This wasn't a normal minivan, this was by far the coolest, fastest, for lack of a better explanation, most baller minivan to ever be made. The layout of the car was fantastic, it sat seven people and every seat was a bucket seat. There were moon roves throughout the whole car. It was just an awesome experience. One of the reasons that I still remember exactly how that car was, who made it, the name and where I rode in it, is because there was something unique about the design. It wasn't a traditional 2-bucket seat, 3 in the back minivan. Ford went out of the norms of minivan society and created a beautiful family experience.
Where is that creativity in everyday designs? How can it be brought back? Is it possible to have creativity while still inviting the user to use the product?
Stakeholders
Design firms, designers and companies would all benefit from more creative designs. The companies would benefit because their products, ideas and ads would be more memorable. The design firms would benefit from having more creative designers, making their work as a firm more credible and memorable. The designers would benefit from being more creative. When they are encouraged to be more creative, given less restrictions, some really awesome things can happen. One of my favorite design groups have been just two or three people who work really well together and make fantastic work.
Consumers would benefit by having the ability to remember and recall something that they liked, because it would standout. If people were able to figure out of how to use things without having to be told or read the instructions, the ease of use would be better, which would in turn create a better user experience. When the design is intelligent, it doesn't need an explanation, it's just clear.
The environment is a large stake holder. How things are created can impact the world we live in. If people are more aware of creating products that have less impact on the world we live in, then that can help make designs not only better for us, but also for the world. With that also comes into the economic impact, if something is too expensive, people won't always buy it. There needs to be an incentive to purchase said product. For instance, the new iPhone 5. What is so special about iPhones? Why do people constantly pay 300, 400, 500 dollars for them?
It's different. It's unique. It stands out. It's memorable. An iPhone is the perfect example of a minimal design that doesn't need much explanation. No where on the iPhone does it tell you how to turn it on or off. Or how to change the sound. But Apple took what people already knew, simplified it, which made it a product that people want to use. There is something inviting about a product that only has 5 buttons, yet needs no start up explanation.
There is a need for innovative design that changes the way we think and use products.
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