Watching Gary Hustwit's feature length documentary Objectified, I hit pause, then rewind as industrial designer Naoto Fukasawa speaks in earnest of the influences in his life that have informed his designs. In particular, the origin of the small angular object he holds in his palm, his cell-phone.
Red and symmetrically angular, like a diamond, it was designed to be appealing to the eye but also to the touch. By deliberately not creating such an aerodynamic shape his intentions are that one's fingers would inexplicably desire to touch the edges and explore the unique texture of the object. He continues to add that you might not necessarily realise you were doing it unless it was pointed out by somebody. This approach of using the subconscious interaction as a method to establish a sincere connection to an 'object' is of particular interest to him. Fukasawa thought about the way in which people don't think about the tools they use, as they use them. Such as a pen. A pen is held most naturally the less that the person thinks about how to hold it. Establishing this connection is intrinsic to good design.
The cell phone was born directly from a fond memory and fascination of peeling a potato. As you peel part of the skin you carve a distinct composition, you reveal the inner colour, and cleanse it in the process. Yet the further you peel in search of perfection, the dirtier the potato again becomes. and you sculpt a new identity.
No comments:
Post a Comment