Lecture 3: Design has Purpose

As mentioned in my previous post, designs all have a specific purpose such as being practical or decorative. There are many types of functions an object can have; However, I will focus on three: The physical purpose, the aesthetic taste and the symbolism an object has. Each object and its function will have been created for a specific group of people which can be determined, to an extent, by how it was designed.

Physical Purpose:

(SwissArmyKnives)

A design with a high importance in physical purpose focuses mainly on how the user will interact with the object and how the object will work. For example, the multi-function knife has high importance for how the object works and functions.

Something as practical as this object most likely has a target audience of working people or those who may like to work with their hands. It will probably not appeal to those who are looking for a decorative or symbolic object.

Aesthetics and symbolism are not as important in such a design as its main focus is on how it is used and its usefulness, not how it looks or what its meaning is.

Aesthetic Purpose:

(House Interior Home)

An object with aesthetic functions listed as high importance will try and have influence on the feelings of those observing the design and perhaps even try to evoke an emotion from the observer or user. The design can achieve this objective in a variety of ways, such as appealing to the senses of the user (sound and feel) or using color and shapes to create a feeling of emotion (Jagged edges for aggression etc.). These objects will most likely be less practical and more just for viewing than use.

The contemporary chairs have high aesthetic purpose due to its appearance, however it likely is uncomfortable to sit on for lengthy periods of time and it located very close to the floor. This leads me to feel that the physical purpose of the design is very low. The chairs do appear as if they are attempting to symbolize something, but it does not seem as important as the aesthetics of the chairs.

Symbolic Purpose:

(Businessweek)

Symbolic designs and objects will attempt to recreate or mimic another object in some form. This is usually done to give the object meaning and personality. These structures and designs are likely to be iconic, such as the Beijing National Stadium which symbolizes a bird's nest but also became the icon for the Olympic Games in Beijing.

These objects usually become more well-known due to how they can easily be related to. They also are likely to have moderate importance in aesthetics as well, probably so they are visually appealing and make the symbolism more obvious.

Mixed Purpose:

On the other hand, designs are not limited to being only one of these functions and can have high importance in each of the aspects.

An example of this can be the faucet shown. It has a practical use as a tap and functions as a normal tap, yet it also has aesthetic appeal in its designs. The curves and angles, as well as the material chosen, all contribute to its appearance and feel to create a very modern and functioning faucet.