it’s so simple
I have been trying to explore the idea of simplicity. Seems easy enough. It just seems like there are so many complicated and expensive technologies to do relatively simple things. It goes one of two ways: either we end up needing a lot of highly sophisticated, very specific things to do a lot of specific, but not necessarily complex things and we end up only using each of the things every two years. And then they fill up drawers and closets. The other way it goes is that we have ridiculously complex things that are unnecessary. I don’t need my phone to be a camera and a personal scheduler, but it seems like I don’t really even have a choice. There are several ways to approach this:
1. make a thing that is waste free.
This is not necessarily just the idea of material conservation, but that it has only the elements it needs to be what it is. It may be that it is so simple that it is not clear what it is until it is in use. And then you realize it is exactly what it needs to be and nothing more.
2. make a thing that can do multiple things.
Not because it’s complicated or electronically sophisticated, but just because it’s good. and smart.
a little bit of research…
Here’s a neat little flash drive. It tells you when it’s full. How handy.
http://www.plusminus.ru/flashbag.html
Droog design in the netherlands are pretty clever with their designs. Theoretical and strange also. But here’s just a strap:
Here’s another shoe rack. Doesn’t take up any floor space at all.
http://www.j-me.co.uk/products-buy/shoe-rack.php
Designboom’s competition for has a couple of interesting things
The winning table is a slick little piece.
http://www.designboom.com/contest/view.php?contest_pk=18&item_pk=13997&p=1
but maybe my favorite is this space saving prop device:
http://www.designboom.com/contest/view.php?contest_pk=18&item_pk=15088&p=3