THREE OBJECTS THAT DISPLAY GOOD DESIGN
What is it?
A crochet hook.
How is it an example of good design?
The hook’s head is thick and solid, making it easy to push through tighter yarn weaves. It is also rounded, making it difficult to snag on the yarn and damage it. Its curve is also relatively open, making it easy to ‘catch’ the yarn on the first try. Immediately after the hook’s head, the ‘neck’ is quite narrow, meaning that that the user can avoid stretching out the yarnwork if necessary by not pushing the hook through too far.
The hook itself is separate from the handle, which is thicker than the hook. Its thickness prevents the hook from slipping through the work by accident when put down. The soft, almost rubber quality of the plastic makes it comfortable to hold for long periods of time. Its matte texture also makes it non-slip, and can be gripped well while working on projects.
The measurement of the hook is also printed on the handle towards the base, where the user is less likely to grip it and therefore rub it off over time. The colour of the handle is also vibrant, making it easy to spot if lost, perhaps under a skein of yarn. The colour also makes the hook easy to identify if bought as part of a multicoloured set, with each colour identifying a different hook size.
What is it?
A bath shelf.
How is it an example of good design?
The shelf unit is extremely simple in its execution. It has no adhesive qualities whatsoever, which makes it very easy to reposition depending on where the bath’s occupant chooses to sit. Gravity and measurements alone are enough to keep it in place.
The choice of wood as the material as opposed to plastic or metals is aesthetically pleasing and creates an overall rustic feel, which might be preferred due to the relaxing connotations of a hot bath. Wood also softens somewhat when wet, which would help prevent damage to the bath itself if knocked out of position, as well as prevent scrapes on the surface.
To prevent the shelf from sliding too far left or right, the central portion of it is set lower than the narrow ‘arms’ of the unit. The unit’s width is also carefully measured to fit the width of varying bath sizes. The curved sections serve to minimise the chance of the unit knocking directly against the bath’s rim. The shelf surface is also enclosed, preventing items from falling into the water below. Its bottom is also slatted, allowing any excess water to drip back through into the bath.
What is it?
A sealing clip.
How is it an example of good design?
It is minimal and unadorned. Its very shape makes it clear what its purpose is, and using it requires very little intuition.
The material is a sturdy plastic, which helps prevent it from losing its shape and therefore its grip on any packaging. Its stiff nature also allows the fastener to audibly snap into place. his serves to reassure the user that their packaging will indeed remain closed. That said, the fact that the product is plastic does allow it a small amount of flexibility, which is important to prevent it from shattering or snapping if a lot of pressure is placed on it. It can therefore be used on thicker or bunched up packaging if needed.
The grooves that run along the back of the fastener prevent it from slipping from the user’s grasp, which is particularly important as the user in most cases would only be using one hand, as the other would most likely be gripping the product they wish to seal.
The clips come in a variety of lengths, and each one is colour-coded. This makes it easy to know which clip to grab if there is a collection of them, perhaps in a disorganised drawer.
The clip is also inexpensive, which is essential as its relatively small size means that it is likely to become lost in a busy kitchen.