What is object design?
Every spoon, chair, phone and toothbrush was designed by someone. Object design (also called product or industrial design) is planning an everyday thing so it is useful, comfortable and nice to look at. A designer thinks about the person who will use it.
Form and function
Function is the job an object does. Form is its shape, size, colour and material. A famous idea says form follows function: first decide the job, then give it a shape that does that job well.
A cup holds hot drink, so it has a hollow body and a handle. A chair holds a sitting body, so it has a seat at knee height and a back to lean on.
Body size, safety and beauty
Good design fits the body. This is called ergonomics. The seat height, the handle size and the grip of a bottle are all made to suit hands and knees.
A good object is also strong (does not break), safe (no sharp edge, does not tip, does not burn) and beautiful (pleasant colour, simple shape). Designers draw sketches, make a model, test it with real people and then improve it.
Try it: redesign one object
Pick one object at home, such as a mug or a lunch box. 1) Write its job in one line. 2) List two things in its shape that help the job. 3) Find one thing you would change. 4) Draw the new version and ask a friend to try your drawing.
Key formulas and definitions
- Function = the job
- Form = shape, size, colour, material
- Form follows function
- Good design = useful + fits the body + strong + safe + beautiful
Worked examples
1. Why is a bottle cap ridged on the edge?
The job is to be turned by wet or small hands. Ridges give a grip, so the form helps the function.
2. A seat is 60 cm high and a child's knee is 40 cm high. Is it comfortable?
No. The seat is 20 cm too high, so the feet hang in the air. A seat near 40 cm suits this child.
3. A kettle has a handle on the same side as the spout. What is the problem?
Pouring would put the hand in steam and hot water. The handle should be on the opposite side to the spout for safety.
4. Name two safety features of a school bag.
Wide soft straps to spread the weight, and a flat back to sit comfortably. Reflective strips on the front are a third.
Common mistakes
- Thinking design is only about looks. Function and safety come first.
- Choosing a shape and then trying to find a job for it.
- Forgetting the user. A design that suits an adult may not suit a child.
- Thinking a plain object is not designed. Plain is also a design choice.