Friends who know me well, know that I am not shy about pronouncing judgment on bad design when I encounter it. Bad design is, well, really bad. The engineer's job - the engineer's responsibility - is to reduce or eliminate bad design wherever it exists, and to create and nurture new, good design in any and all venues.
Good design: Washington's Metro system. Especially at stations like Metro Center, where different lines meet, and you get those gorgeous intersecting arching tunnels...so nice.
Bad design: Childproof caps on pill bottles that my mother cannot open with her arthritic hands. Actually, pretty much anything that isn't designed keeping in mind the needs of the elderly and disabled. Grrrrrrr....
Here is a lovely collection of really bad design.
Last Friday's Philadelphia Inquirer had a review of a book - set of books, really - called Phaidon Design Classics. This is where you go to see really good design! I am pleased to know that Tupperware made it into the book. Also the clothes peg. Household technology doesn't get near enough the kind of attention it should.
Too bad these books are so expensive. They would be a great resource for high school teachers who wanted to illustrate the engineer's ubiquitous influence in our lives. Perhaps you are feeling philanthropic, and would like to donate a set of these books to your local middle school or high school library! That is really wonderful. Zuska approves.
7:07:16 PM 
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