Design is stupid
Out of context: Reply #118
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- cinder0
OK, I've read some more responses.
First of all, any of you trying to say stupid art-fart crap like "design is you, it's me, design is art and love and life"
Shut. Up.
Design is a process by which things are improved.
By which things are made simpler, easier, more obvious, more useful, more profitable, more communicative, more streamlined, more efficient, more better.It's not always about making a message louder or more obvious - it's sometimes about becoming invisible and clearing the path between the 'listener' and the message.
I've been thinking about this lately after visiting the new Seattle Public Library.
It's definitely beautiful and definitely nice. And there are some things that are well-designed.
But really - the entire point of a library is diseminating information as fast, as accurately and as easily as possible and I dont think they did a single thing differently than any other library.
(although I could be wrong if there are hidden processes)The books are still in ugly booksleeves on boring non-descript shelves. There is little indicator what section you are in beyond the labels on the bookshelves.
Oh, and on the end of each bookshelf is a label giving you subject and the numbers - but in some of the aisles instead of the edge of a bookshelf, there is a square 'pillar' which the shelf is butted up against.
But guess where the label is?
It's still on the shelf! the edge of the shelf that is . . . BUTTED UP AGAINST THE PILLARso you'd have to peer into the 1 inch wide space between to potentially read the label.
How is THAT well designed?
It's not.
and the labels are very small. very hard to read.
why did they need to be small?I guess I'm starting to think that usability and clarity being below beauty and standardization is often a mistake.
We're standing around admiring how pretty this new library is but we still can't find the books we're looking for.
The graphic design books are in 4 different sections with no visual, locational or environmental cues on how to find them.
computers are spread at different points and if you find you're missing information - you have to go find one and start your search over.I guess I'm ranting now, but really - there is nothing wrong with design and everything wrong with you.
I don't think every designer has the capability to think outside of Photoshop - but a lot do.
and I think they need to start butting their noses into places where people tell them they don't belong so we can start making things work better.