Dieter Rams

Each to his own. Art is what the artist makes of it. However, as a consumer, what would you want? When I read Dieter Rams' "Ten Ways to Good Design" I started to look at objects in my living room, kitchen, and even in my car. I noticed a pillow that was too big for the couch. It had zebra print, which at this time it is fashionable, but that will soon be outdated. It is fuzzy and already has a hole in it after just one year. I discovered it is a terrible design. A good design is innovative, useful, aesthetic, understandable, unobtrusive, honest, long-lasting, thorough, environmentally-friendly, and is as little designed as possible. To choose a good product, I thought of all these guidelines, walked around my apartment, and studied objects. I saw my measuring cup and instantly knew it was a well-designed product. I knew it was useful; I use it all the time. It may not be beautiful in a sense that most people think, but it is beautiful in a simple way. Its purpose is so obvious, it is impossible to not know what its purpose is. It does not attempt to be anything more than just a measuring cup. I believe it will be a long-lasting design; measuring cups have not changed too dramatically over the years. I know it is designed down to the last detail because there had to be some serious thinking to figure out the numbers. I do not plan on throwing it away and it is simple; it is not over done.
My intended major is graphic design, so of course I will not be designing objects such as a measuring cup, but this article gave me some idea of what I need to do to succeed. I can not just throw something together; it must be well-planned and thought out. I want to design within these boundaries, yet be original.