Why Good Design Makes You Happy.

I love this video and found so much of it to be relatable and true to my creative process.  Here are some notes I took while watching it:

·      Sometimes good aesthetic design can overshadow what it may lack in function.  If it’s fun to interact with, even if it functions less easily, people will still enjoy it.

o   Visceral level: in advertising; packaging and marketing can make or break a product.  So can aesthetic presentation; the 1963 Jaguar is in MoMA because it’s pleasing to the eye, not because it runs well.

o   Behavioral level: subconscious…is about feeling in control of the environment

o   Reflective level: superego, has no control over what you do, but is more of the conscience and motivation to do things.  For example, a Hummer or an expensive watch will perform the same function as a cheap car or watch, but the reaction from other people, and the feeling you get from utilizing the given object, are different.

·      Fear and anxiety can change the way you think, producing neurotransmitters and causing you to be more focused.  But relaxation and happiness in problem-solving situations produce dopamine, which makes you prone to creative, out-of-the-box thinking (definitely true for me!)

Objectified

Objectified was definitely an interesting film, and although it didn’t really relate to my major, it was cool to see how innovative a field industrial design is, how constantly it changes and advances to fit the needs of consumers.  Also fascinating was watching where ideas come from, sometimes on a whim or by accident (such as using a bike handle to ultimately develop the handle for a potato peeler) and sometimes through extensive reflection and trial-and-error (such as designing something as simple as a toothbrush).

      I find there’s so much we take for granted when it comes to design, and we assume that things are the way they are just by chance or because “that’s just the way it is”.  After watching this film it’s incredible to see the reasons and the planning that goes into designing each object, and I’ll undoubtedly be able to better appreciate good industrial design from here on out.