Art & Functionality
Art & Functionality
“Great design is a multi-layered relationship between human life and its environment.”
–Naoto Fukasawa
When a work of art combines with modern design and functionality, the result is astounding. The end result and the satisfaction that comes with solving specific problems through design is the whole reason I became a passionate entrepreneur and inventor. Being able to perform data research and articulate the resulting information, while inserting creativity in order to solve a problem, is what every designer should be striving to accomplish on a daily basis. We are all surrounded by design in the environment in which we live, and the products we use. However, we are currently living in a time where so many products are continually streaming at us from many different direction, we sometimes forget to reflect on where they came from. The individuals behind the scenes are able to identify a specific problem, analyze the data through market research, and develop new creative solutions to accommodate consumer needs. For example, if you go to the store and purchase a new toothbrush, you don't really think at all about the person behind the scenes who creatively (and some would argue artistically) brought that product to life. Those individuals most likely started with hand drawn sketches, a break down of ergonomic data research, then moved on to 3D CAD modeling. They also evaluated buying trends, color schemes, and packaging design. Everything is meticulously planned with a specific strategy, and the end goal is always to get the consumer to purchase the product without ever having to think about the “how or why” they made that specific purchase. Great design, along with great marketing is happening all around us in our daily lives.
One great example of art and functionality I've come across recently is from the work of an Italian company @WallpepperIT. They've developed a very innovative way to solve an acoustic problem. The company is making one of a kind sound absorbing wallpaper. The graphics are very unique and one could almost categorize their products as fine art. The designs make every wall they cover pop with visual aesthetics while also acting as fully functioning sound absorbing panels. Many sound absorbing panels today are gaudy, obtuse, and out of place. @WallpepperIT has solved that problem through acoustic data research in perfect harmony with functional design.
One industry that could benefit greatly from this technology is the restaurant industry. Many restaurants strive to hire top notch designers that are experts in spatial recognition with everything from lighting, to seating, and proximity to the kitchen enticing our sense of smell (which is said to have the most correlation to our long term memory). Sondare Acoustics has found that even after spending an arm and a leg on the interior design, many restaurants fall short of accounting for the acoustics. Through research, Sondare Acoustics has found that the restaurant acoustic and environment experience is second only to the quality of the food product itself. Some of the key points when talking about the overall experience and ambiance includes: the lighting, the niche theme, the décor, the smell of the kitchen, the graphics on the menu, and the acoustics. If the environment is so loud that you cannot hear the person across from you, you might leave having a negative experience without even realizing what it was that caused you to feel that way. Sondare Acoustics offers solutions to improve the acoustics of restaurants and strongly recommends an analysis of how the sound within your environment is perceived by your customers. This can and should be done through perfect harmony of art and functionality, where the customer leaves with a positive experience without consciously being aware of the specific design elements that made them enjoy their experience and wish to return. It is all happening in the subconscious and that is a sign of great design.
