After reading, my initial thought was how, in the real world today, we are always competing to make inventions that already function smoothly look fancy and aesthetically futuristic. This causes us to overlook the importance of simple designs that just work. The examples given in the text, like doors, switches, and stoves, are good examples of how, in today’s world, simple objects can become confusing when designed poorly just for the sake of appearance. In my opinion, I appreciate good design when it works easily, rather than the overcomplicated ones that frustrate me. For example, when he talked about his friend’s experience with a door, it really stood out to me because it shows how humans can take something simple and turn it into something people struggle with, which is also frustrating.
For me, it’s annoying when designers care more about how things look than how they function. It feels like they’re taking away the object’s purpose. It’s not just me who feels this way, because older generations also struggle with this. They have a hard time catching up with how the world functions now, so adding complexity to something that’s supposed to be simple just makes it harder for them. Sometimes it feels like designers expect us to admire their work without caring if we can actually use it. What’s the point of a nice-looking door if I don’t know how to open it? This applies to all kinds of things, not just objects, but whether it’s a phone app or a media project, it needs to be easy to use.
In today’s world, many products are designed with minimalism in mind. While they may look cool and modern, they often hide important functions. For example, take Kim Kardashian’s sink design in her house. The sink looks cool and ultra-modern, but it’s confusing because it doesn’t function like a regular sink. The surface is completely flat with no visible basin, and the water drains into a small slit. While the design looks unique and futuristic, it takes away from the sink’s practicality. When I saw it for the first time, my first thought was, “How does the tap work?” This is a perfect example of minimalist design taken too far, where the design hides or complicates something as simple as a sink’s basic function. The goal of making something aesthetically pleasing can actually make its usability hard and confusing.
Overall, I think the ideas of “discoverability” and “understanding” are important when it comes to the process of designing something. Discoverability helps someone figure out what to do, while understanding helps them know how it works. To me, these two concepts are essential to good design. This also applies to the media work I want to do. If something isn’t clear, the message gets lost. Good design should be so simple and natural that you don’t even think about it. That’s something I want to keep in mind for any future projects I create, whether in film, media, or design. In the end, I think it’s important not to overlook the balance between how something looks and how well it works.