RR01

I read the first six chapters of John Heskett's Design: A Very Short Introduction, and was able to pick out some of the main themes we've been discussing in class. The first few chapters were about the history of design and mentioned the "form follows function" (p. 24) and "form follows fiction" (p. 25) ideas. I find these ideas to be particularly interesting since in design it seems that the ideal goal is to have a product/graphic/space that's both beautiful and functional.

Additionally, I noticed that Design as Communication was a recurring theme throughout the text. Pgs. 34-35 discussed how design communicates cultural messages and values and how a design could take on a totally different meaning in a different culture.

Pg. 52 mentioned how the ADA and recycling place constraints on designers and require them to be more creative with meeting the needs of clients and creating designs that are both functional and good for the earth. I also found it interesting that evolving technology is extremely important for designers to keep up on. Pg. 53 describes how technology plays a pivotal role in designing and how many designs have been completely revolutionized due to innovative technology.

The text did a good job of relating design to advertising and marketing. Designers constantly have to be aware of what the public wants and what is the best way to present a product, space, or visual communication to their audience. The goal of many designers is to get the public to "have what they never knew they wanted" (pg. 42). Much of the products and conveniences we have today we never would have missed if we didn't know about them before, but since they are here and available, we feel we can't live without them. That is the mark of a truly great design, in my opinion. A product that is so convenient, beautiful, and functional, that we would feel lost without it.