Comments on: IKEA, breaking rules, story telling, sustainability and art http://www.vestaldesign.com/blog/2006/08/ikea-breaking-rules-story-telling-sustinability-and-art/ A design blog with a particular emphasis on green design, design for society, and environmental technologies, Vestal Design Blog also discusses web design, product design, graphic design, and architecture. Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:51:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Ken http://www.vestaldesign.com/blog/2006/08/ikea-breaking-rules-story-telling-sustinability-and-art/comment-page-1/#comment-224015 Ken Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:28:10 +0000 http://www.vestaldesign.com/blog/2006/08/ikea-breaking-rules-story-telling-sustinability-and-art.html#comment-224015 Love how you have turned things 'inside out' to seek out alternatives to wasteful consumer culture. Don't really know if I want to be reminded of all those coffee stains on my glass table though. Love how you have turned things ‘inside out’ to seek out alternatives to wasteful consumer culture. Don’t really know if I want to be reminded of all those coffee stains on my glass table though.

]]> By: Hans Wissner http://www.vestaldesign.com/blog/2006/08/ikea-breaking-rules-story-telling-sustinability-and-art/comment-page-1/#comment-3351 Hans Wissner Fri, 03 Nov 2006 17:59:38 +0000 http://www.vestaldesign.com/blog/2006/08/ikea-breaking-rules-story-telling-sustinability-and-art.html#comment-3351 I wrote my Masters Thesis on a similar thread, namely how can we design objects that communicate our own vision and intent yet also facilitate a user interaction that brings value to the product that is independant of the designer. This approach can promote the user to take responsibility for the product and hopefully form a relationship with it that will foster more sustainable practices and attitudes. I wrote my Masters Thesis on a similar thread, namely how can we design objects that communicate our own vision and intent yet also facilitate a user interaction that brings value to the product that is independant of the designer. This approach can promote the user to take responsibility for the product and hopefully form a relationship with it that will foster more sustainable practices and attitudes.

]]> By: BrandyLynn http://www.vestaldesign.com/blog/2006/08/ikea-breaking-rules-story-telling-sustinability-and-art/comment-page-1/#comment-1337 BrandyLynn Fri, 18 Aug 2006 13:45:54 +0000 http://www.vestaldesign.com/blog/2006/08/ikea-breaking-rules-story-telling-sustinability-and-art.html#comment-1337 Sears sells a brand of kids' jeans (ToughSkins, I think) that are supposedly guaranteed not to wear out (especially at the knees, where most kids destroy them). In the event they do, they'll replace the pants. My mother made it through 4 kids with very little money by using this trick. She'd buy the jeans, and hand them down to each one of us, knowing they'd be replaced if necessary. It worked! I'm all for reusing the "used" items of others. In fact, I'd be willing to bet that there's hardly anything in my home that *I* bought new. Sears sells a brand of kids’ jeans (ToughSkins, I think) that are supposedly guaranteed not to wear out (especially at the knees, where most kids destroy them). In the event they do, they’ll replace the pants. My mother made it through 4 kids with very little money by using this trick. She’d buy the jeans, and hand them down to each one of us, knowing they’d be replaced if necessary. It worked! I’m all for reusing the “used” items of others. In fact, I’d be willing to bet that there’s hardly anything in my home that *I* bought new.

]]> By: chuckgutz http://www.vestaldesign.com/blog/2006/08/ikea-breaking-rules-story-telling-sustinability-and-art/comment-page-1/#comment-1308 chuckgutz Thu, 17 Aug 2006 23:02:42 +0000 http://www.vestaldesign.com/blog/2006/08/ikea-breaking-rules-story-telling-sustinability-and-art.html#comment-1308 Doc Marten's boots! Before they became trendy, they produced a quality product that looked better as they wore in. It reminds me of the yuppie Harley riders with their new shiney leathers and chromed out bikes. They are like the Disney version of what bikers are supposed to be. Weathered, scuffed leather adds a certain validity of experience and gives a subtle visual cue to others. The punk rock scene adopted this aesthetic to great effect. Wear is a rejection of conventional norms of neatness and order. Its interesting how the punk rock and biker looks have been sterilised and co-opted by mall culture. Doc Marten’s boots! Before they became trendy, they produced a quality product that looked better as they wore in. It reminds me of the yuppie Harley riders with their new shiney leathers and chromed out bikes. They are like the Disney version of what bikers are supposed to be. Weathered, scuffed leather adds a certain validity of experience and gives a subtle visual cue to others. The punk rock scene adopted this aesthetic to great effect. Wear is a rejection of conventional norms of neatness and order. Its interesting how the punk rock and biker looks have been sterilised and co-opted by mall culture.

]]> By: Mike Lin http://www.vestaldesign.com/blog/2006/08/ikea-breaking-rules-story-telling-sustinability-and-art/comment-page-1/#comment-1305 Mike Lin Thu, 17 Aug 2006 18:44:34 +0000 http://www.vestaldesign.com/blog/2006/08/ikea-breaking-rules-story-telling-sustinability-and-art.html#comment-1305 "There's no profit in durability" ...that's a very good point. Following present models of product development, volume and new production bring in the bucks. ...but what about this "service economy" people are buzzing about? How do we make that happen? ...and also, can you think of any brands or objects that are durable, retain value, and in doing so gain customer loyalty so that it is profitable in that manner? I seem to recall that Jansport used to have a 100% guarantee policy. If it wore out, they either repaired or replaced it, no matter how old. I remember wearing out my favorite backpack in high school and after they evaluated that it was not cost effective to repair it, they sent me a new one of their equivalent line... I believe Patagonia has a similar policy on their apparel and equipment. “There’s no profit in durability”

...that’s a very good point. Following present models of product development, volume and new production bring in the bucks. ...but what about this “service economy” people are buzzing about? How do we make that happen?

...and also, can you think of any brands or objects that are durable, retain value, and in doing so gain customer loyalty so that it is profitable in that manner?

I seem to recall that Jansport used to have a 100% guarantee policy. If it wore out, they either repaired or replaced it, no matter how old. I remember wearing out my favorite backpack in high school and after they evaluated that it was not cost effective to repair it, they sent me a new one of their equivalent line… I believe Patagonia has a similar policy on their apparel and equipment.

]]> By: Bob http://www.vestaldesign.com/blog/2006/08/ikea-breaking-rules-story-telling-sustinability-and-art/comment-page-1/#comment-1304 Bob Thu, 17 Aug 2006 18:15:05 +0000 http://www.vestaldesign.com/blog/2006/08/ikea-breaking-rules-story-telling-sustinability-and-art.html#comment-1304 I like the similar idea of "invisible feedback"--the concept that the use of an object or substance shows you its progress. Examples are black soap that disappears when your hands are clean, tooth dye that disappears when you brush correctly: http://www.core77.com/blog/object_culture/extra_feedback_in_invisible_processes_4258.asp I like the similar idea of “invisible feedback”—the concept that the use of an object or substance shows you its progress. Examples are black soap that disappears when your hands are clean, tooth dye that disappears when you brush correctly:
http://www.core77.com/blog/object_culture/extra_feedback_in_invisible_processes_4258.asp

]]> By: Jeffrey Warren http://www.vestaldesign.com/blog/2006/08/ikea-breaking-rules-story-telling-sustinability-and-art/comment-page-1/#comment-1303 Jeffrey Warren Thu, 17 Aug 2006 15:46:36 +0000 http://www.vestaldesign.com/blog/2006/08/ikea-breaking-rules-story-telling-sustinability-and-art.html#comment-1303 Great post! Great post!

]]> By: chuckgutz http://www.vestaldesign.com/blog/2006/08/ikea-breaking-rules-story-telling-sustinability-and-art/comment-page-1/#comment-1301 chuckgutz Thu, 17 Aug 2006 10:31:19 +0000 http://www.vestaldesign.com/blog/2006/08/ikea-breaking-rules-story-telling-sustinability-and-art.html#comment-1301 This brings to mind the casemodding trend, which illustrates the consuming public's dissatisfaction with modern design. A computer cased in hand polished hardwoods and brass fittings will look much cooler in ten years than that ridiculous imac (obsolescence aside). As long as they produce cheap, ugly plastic consumer goods we'll continue to replace them when they get scuffed and broken. There's no profit in durability. This brings to mind the casemodding trend, which illustrates the consuming public’s dissatisfaction with modern design. A computer cased in hand polished hardwoods and brass fittings will look much cooler in ten years than that ridiculous imac (obsolescence aside). As long as they produce cheap, ugly plastic consumer goods we’ll continue to replace them when they get scuffed and broken. There’s no profit in durability.

]]> By: Ken http://www.vestaldesign.com/blog/2006/08/ikea-breaking-rules-story-telling-sustinability-and-art/comment-page-1/#comment-1300 Ken Thu, 17 Aug 2006 05:44:33 +0000 http://www.vestaldesign.com/blog/2006/08/ikea-breaking-rules-story-telling-sustinability-and-art.html#comment-1300 I have had precisely this same feeling about today's product design. We're being sold the idea that cold, sterilized cosntructions are the top of beauty, and when they acquire a trace of wear they are ugly and thus obsolete, and thus time to buy a new one (Apple design is particularly gulity in this area). After spending a number of years pacing up and down the aisles of thrift stores, I am often in awe of the beauty and style of older tools, furniture, appliances and other common goods, especially with which they age, often asking myself "My god, how could someone throw something so beautiful away?" If fact, I've just started a photo-blog about my thrift store experiences (http://www.thriftstoreadventures.blogspot.com/) partially devoted to the beauty of the beat up toaster, among other things. I have had precisely this same feeling about today’s product design. We’re being sold the idea that cold, sterilized cosntructions are the top of beauty, and when they acquire a trace of wear they are ugly and thus obsolete, and thus time to buy a new one (Apple design is particularly gulity in this area). After spending a number of years pacing up and down the aisles of thrift stores, I am often in awe of the beauty and style of older tools, furniture, appliances and other common goods, especially with which they age, often asking myself “My god, how could someone throw something so beautiful away?” If fact, I’ve just started a photo-blog about my thrift store experiences (http://www.thriftstoreadventures.blogspot.com/) partially devoted to the beauty of the beat up toaster, among other things.

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