The MagicSpeed wheelchair is a brilliant invention:
MAGICWHEELS™ - 2-gear wheelchair drive work very similar to a 2 speed bicycle allowing you to shift into a lower gear before you climb hills or roll over any type of uneven or rough terrain.
It’s always nice to see design well applied to good causes.
The Acropolis is full of thoughtful design details:
The columns of the Parthenon slope gently inward to correct the perspective when looking up at the temple that would otherwise make them appear to be crooked, leaning outward.
It’s almost too clever to be true.
Picture by Shelby Root
It’s amazing what you can do with clever algorithms: virtual barbershop.
Photo by Esthr.
A lot of people have linked to the UPS whiteboard ads, so I figured I’d post two recent commercials I find particularly imaginative: Nike Criket and Snickers Red vs. Green.
And then of course there’s this.
I really like Thomas Raschke’s wireframe sculptures of common objects. If the world was a 3D model…
The History of the Button blog has a really interesting post on a seemingly smart, but ultimately confusing elevator design. Is it possible for designs to be too clever for their own good?
Dealing with the user’s ingrained expectations is often a dilemma when trying to innovate: do you create something that is novel and potentially confusing, or do you conform to the user’s expectations? Often, an idea will be a clear improvement on paper, but the user’s habits will in practice prove an overwhelming barrier. This is particularly true when the interaction is almost subconscious, as in the elevator example linked to above.
When a novel design provides significant new value, users may be willing to invest some time and mental effort to learn new behaviors. Many people are willing to learn how to use a navigation system, as it makes life so much easier. Nevertheless, designers should work to minimize these switching costs by providing adequate explanations (preferably in context, not tucked away in an obscure manual), adhering to usability conventions as much as possible, and using methods such as progressive disclosure.
Of course, the most revolutionary designs are those that innovate in a way that is so intuitive that they behave exactly as the user expects them to — even though the interaction is completely novel. Automatic transmissions are a good example of this — they are clearly simpler to use than their alternative. Not to use a tired example, the iPod’s scroll-wheel also springs to mind. It remains to be seen if the iPhone lives up to expectations, though usability expert Bruce Tognazzini has high hopes.
I’ve touched on this subject before: elevator algorithms
In 2005, Raphael Julliard had 1000 red monochromes manufactured in China and sold them for 100 euros at a Paris art fair. The pieces, each stamped “Made in China”, are a fun way to comment on the democratization (or commoditization) of art. A friend of mine bought one of these, they’ve apparently appreciated quite a bit since then.
Miele Liquid Wash, a washing machine that automatically dispenses detergent. Simple innovation that makes daily chores easier.
LiquidWash also offers ecological benefits by conserving every extra drop of detergent, gauging the perfect amount per individual load.
The Fletcher Capstan expandable table is a very ingenious design. It’s really a shame that it’s so ugly.
UPS is leveraging some clever technology to shave seconds from each delivery, and saving hundreds of millions of dollars in the process. I love the fact that they consciously avoid left-hand turns:
Not only does Alles’ handheld computer contain his route sequence - with as few time- and fuel-wasting left-hand turns as possible - …
