Now there’s product design and there’s product design.
The first is the initial process that follows the ‘I’ve got a good idea’ thought. You come up with something that you think nobody else has successfully invented yet, you get your ideas down on paper, patent it (if you’re sensible) and then initiate product design whereby you employ someone who knows how to put your idea into practice and give you the resulting product itself.
Then, we have product design. Now this type is completely different. These are the products that people actually spend their time giving thought to and then, probably through some mental disability that makes them think it’s a good idea, they employ the same experts to bring their product deign to fruition.
For example, we have the bra that turns into two gas masks – just in case you should ever get caught out and need a swift removal of underwear to save your life.
Product Design - The Silent Screamer
A couple from California thought it would be a good idea to invent a ‘scream silencer’. A tube like muffler fits around the screamers mouth and away you go! Scream your heart out into the tube which is coated with sound absorbing foam, and no-one will be any the wiser. The only draw back they could see was losing the satisfaction of hearing your own scream so they considerately hooked it up to a microphone that creates a light display from the sound for visual feedback without disturbing others.
Useless product design from Edwardian times included things such as the moustache guard. This consisted of an antiseptic paper disc that folded over the edge of any cup of glass. The purpose of this was to prevent the moustache getting wet and potentially growing bacteria. All very well until it’s wet and turns to papier mache!
So, product design or product design, it make all the difference!
