2) What types of problems or dilemmas similar to those that Griffith encounters are you aware of in your own design field?
The key of industrial design is to solve a problem at hand, heightening the quality of life for those who are effected by the problem. Griffith seems to have a habit of solving the wrong problem. This was the issue with his eyeglass manufacturing machine. Although it was very efficient, simply shipping eyeglasses from China solved that problem. The actual problem at hand preventing people in third world countries from obtaining eyeglasses was the issue of knowing what prescription they needed.
One other problem which seemed to face Griffith was the practicality of his designs. This resulted in an alienation of the larger market of the general population, which promotes products and yields success to the designer. A couple of his products which come to mind that fall under this category are his compact generator which was used by swinging it around the users head; the other is his machine which can take digital designs into three dimensional objects, but the object is chocolate. This is a cool idea, but the market for that is so limited, rendering the product not so much of a success. If he were able to put this technology into something more people could utilize I feel like it would become much more popular of a product.
All of these issues are very relevant to industrial design. The foundation of industrial design is finding the perfect combination of form and function. However, there are many other factors to be kept in mind for a successful design. The materials, manufacturing process, and most of all the audience are a few key elements of design.
3) How are these problems being solved? Write down what you find.
I feel like these problems are solved within any highly successful product. Such as the iPod, television, and folding bag chairs. These products were able to address the general population and trigger a positive response. Each one of these products took an existing quality of life: music, seating and packaged them in a unique, more portable, and generally more convenient way.
- Additional question: Try to identify the types of problems that Owen describes. Some of these are encountered directly by Griffith; others are articulated by him. There are at least six.
- Enough money to fund designs
- People losing interest in environmentally sustainable products because they are more expensive and less convenient.
- Identifying and solving the wrong problem to his perceived problem in society.
- The practicality of his designs.
- Making job specific products without a well thought out audience to support the product.
- He struggles with trying to keep each of his designs absolutely revolutionary and unique. He states that its “tempting to become a very vanilla consulting company.” This is ambitious and the opportunity is great for success, however it is much more difficult to find success in this field of ground breaking products. Part of this is due to bureaucracy which was found when dealing with sustainable energy products.
