RR02

This reading reflection (RR02) is on Chapters 1-3 of Heskett. Regarding chapter one, I particularly enjoyed the approach the author took to attempt to describe design from a holistic approach. I thought the quote that read, "very few aspects of the material environment are incapable of improvement" was very insightful, because it serves to illustrate a definite need within society for designers and design thinking. In general I thought this chapter did a good job of informing the reader that design is a concept that can have many different meanings depending on situational context, but that its underlying principals revolve around the human capacity to alter our surroundings and environment.

My favorite aspect of chapter 2 was the way which it showed the chronological progression and evolution of design throughout time. The chapter did a good job detailing why the industrial revolution was what really gave birth to the need for design and designers on a large scale. Without the explosion of industry there would probably be many more artisans and craftsmen and designers.

Chapter 3 was informative because of the insight it provided regarding utility and significance. I particularly enjoyed the example about the toothpicks, and how to outsiders the markings on the Japanese version appeared merely decorative but to someone from Japan that minor design feature altered the user's experience with the toothpicks. I liked this example because it shows how things such as culture can have an effect on the perceived value of a product's design features.