Write a blog post of your views on Smart design and Emotional design and its importance in our lives, reference 2 products that you use that are not related to a smartphone, computer or tablet etc that you enjoy using and have an Emotional connection to.
As we explore the definition of product design, the intersection of smart design and emotional connection creates another layer to the complexity. In the 21st century, we surround ourselves with gadgets and devices, the importance of products that not only serve a functional purpose but also evoke an emotional response as we create attachment’s to devices like phones and cars.
Smart design is the idea that the design of an object not only focuses on aesthetics but also seamlessly integrates into our lives, creating the perfect blend of form and function. Whether it’s the sleek lines of a well-designed coffee maker or the intuitive layout of a thermostat, smart design considers usability, efficiency, and aesthetics to create a cohesive user experience. Dan Formosa introduced the idea that if you take the two extremes of your clients the middle will fill in itself. Meaning that if you create products that work both with (for example) the slowest and fastest person on earth, you will have a product that should work for everyone. Smart design is a way of designing products that ideally will be helpful to a broad range of people and not one specific targeted group.
Emotional design aims to create products that resonate with users on a personal level, producing a deep emotional connection. When a product goes beyond meeting functional needs and becomes an integral part of our lives, it transforms into something more profound. For example, I have a baby blanket that my grandma gave me when my parents adopted me from China. I would assume that the blanket was designed to keep me warm as a child but as I grew up I grew an emotional attachment to the blanket. Even to this day when I get anxious sometimes just holding the blanket will make me feel better. Another thing that I am attached to are my Crocs. Crocs are summer shoes that you can get wet and work on many different terrains. I think that the prospect of adventure I feel when I put on my crocs gives me an emotional attachment to those as well.
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