Wisdom Without Waiting: Designing for the Senses -- Part III
© John L. Mariotti
The appeal to a sixth sense is the "BEST VALUE"-- all of these elements, and functionality are combined into an entire product that can be readily produced at high quality, with speed and flexibility, at low cost and with aesthetic excellence.
Even after functionality and all of the senses have been served, another part of design becomes the ultimate differentiator--information. Autos already contain a score or more of microprocessors that monitor, report or control everything from the amount of fuel or service interval to the timing of engine ignition and emergency braking. Soon homes will exceed that number as the products for the home integrate more smart chips into designs.
Information is an overwhelming value creator in design because it defies the old laws of economics. For years economists taught us that the determinants of wealth were land, labor & capital. These each had the characteristics of exclusive use and/or consumption with use. In this economic model, companies could "own and use" the wealth factors.
Information has changed all of this. It is neither exclusive, nor is it used up. The more information is spread and shared, the richer and more valuable it becomes--but usually not exclusively for any one company/owner -- unless they can build it into their designs!
Einstein told us "The world we have created today has problems which
cannot be solved by thinking the way we thought when we created them,"
almost a century ago. At no time in the past is his admonition more true
than in the design of products for the future.
