What is design? A deeper dive

Whenever we hear the word design we immediately vividly get images of stylish clothing, hi-tech gadgets, or exquisitely pleasing architecture flashing in our heads. This is because we've been taught from a very young age to associate design primarily with aesthetics. However, this is a misconception. Design is not how things looks but how they work or function.

Design is Function

At the core design is about creating solutions. There may be many solutions for a problem but design helps us figure out or come up with a most effecient solution or even improvise an already existing solution. Design is about creating solutions that are practically possible with least use of resources. Design is so deeply embedded in our lives such that we hardly notice it. From a very small object like a spoon or a cutlery to a very complex system like a smartphone design plays a crucial part in making or lives a better experience. Let's explore some of those everyday objects for better understanding of design

The Teapot: A simple object with deeper design thinking

A teapot, might look like a simple object but has the perfect combination of functionality and ease of use. Each part of the teapot is made with a specific purpose, contributing to the overall experience of the user of the teapot. Lets see each and every component of the teapot and its purpose.

The Container: The bloated avacado shaped piece in the center is the one which hold the tea. The shape and size of the container makes it unique and easily identify it as a teapot even from a far away distance. The wider base of the teapot lowers the center of gravity and helps it stand its ground without tilting whether it contains the hot beverage or not, because as the base is larger even if the teapot is full major amount od tea is held at the bottom transfering the weight lower to the ground which helps it regain its position even when tilted.

The Lid: The lid serves several purposes. It protects the tea from dust and external contaminants or eve small insects, ensuring that the tea remains safe to drink. Additionally, it helps to retain heat, preventing the tea from dissipating the heat too quickly. The lid may have a small vent or hole to allow steam to escape, preventing the cooled down vapours falling back into the tea from the inner side of the lid.

The Spout: The spout is designed with a small orifice to pour the tea into a teacup with precision and control into a cup which has a smaller opening compared to the top of the container which prevents the hot tea spilling over and staining clothes or burning someone's skin. It is typically positioned near the base of the teapot, allowing the user to stop pouring the tea by just a small tilt upwards.

The Handle: The handle is a crucial component for lifting and carrying the teapot. It should be comfortable to hold and provide a secure grip. The placement of the handle is important to ensure balance and prevent the teapot from tipping over. In some cases, the handle may be insulated to protect the user's hand from the heat of the hot tea.

The teapot, with its carefully crafted parts, is a sample of how good design goes unnoticed into everyday objects that we use. The decorative structure of the teapot not only serves functionality but also makes it into a piece of art adding elegance to the environment it belongs.

Now imagine if the spout is not there and we need to pour the tea into the cup just like we pour water from a jug. Water is easily available and even if it spills outside the cup we can refill it easily, but tea take time to prepare and we cannot refill it easily. Moreover if the tea spills on anybody the hot tea will burn their skin and create discomfort for them, whereas water doesn't. If the tea spills on somebody's clothes or dress then it will create a stain on that which may not be removable and water will not cause any stain. These are the reasons why teapot has got a spout and we just don't use them like water jugs.

Precise Pouring: The spout inspired by an elephant's trunk which has a small opening allows the user to pour tea into the cup precisely, without the risk of spills. This is very important when dealing with hot liquids, which may cause burns if they come into contact with the skin or may create stains on clothes which will become hard to remove if not acted quickly.

Safety: By preventing spills, the spout helps to protect both the person pouring the tea and those around them from accidental burns.

Minimizing Waste: Tea powder comes in a range of prices from commercial to luxurious. The spout helps to reduce the waste of such precious tea due to accidental spills.

Maintaining Temperature: The trunk style of spout does not allows easy flow of air through it which minimizes the loss of heat by external air flow through the spout.

Preventing Stains: Tea, especially dark varieties, can leave stains on surfaces like clothing or furniture which may not be a good sight to see for the guests as generally teapots are used as a symbol of sophistication in high level meetings

Easy Clean up: When the amount of tea spilt is les it makes easier to clean the mess, so the spout's design often makes it easier compared to a jug.

In conclusion, the spout on a teapot is a well-thought-out design feature that enhances both the safety and functionality of the teapot. By preventing spills, minimizing waste, and protecting surfaces. The placement of the teapot handle opposite the spout is a well-considered design choice that contributes to the teapot's functionality, efficiency, and safety.

The Strategic Placement of the Teapot Handle

Have you ever wondered why the handle of the teapot is placed exactly opposite to the spout. The strategic placement of the teapot handle directly opposite the spout is not a choice for aesthetics but much more than that. It is a design choice to enhance both functionality and ease of use. This setup provides a more efficient and comfortable use of teapot.

Natural Movement: The handle of the teapot is placed opposite to the spout in order to align with the natural up and down tilting ability of the human wrist to enable pouring and stop pouring of the tea with the least effort by human wrist, making it easier to use the teapot for longer periods.

Balanced Weight: By placing the handle and the spout on the opposite sides of the container, the weight of the teapot is more evenly distributed, allowing the user to easily handle the teapot and preventing it from slipping or tilting over.

Full Range of Motion: By placing the handle on the opposite side, the user can serve tea to almost 180 degrees by standing in one place without much movement by utilizing their wrist to its full extent, covering a larger range of motion.

Multiple Cups: The ability to revolve the teapot easily about the wrist or elbow using them as a fulcrum or axis makes it convenient for the user to pour tea into several cups without having to reposition the teapot or their hand. This feature comes handy while pouring tea for a group of people aligned around a circular table.

Reducing the risk of accidental heat burns: The size of the handle helps to minimize the risk of accidental burns as the users hand is placed at the outer edge of the handle and it can no way reach or touch the outer surface of the container holding the hot beverage.

Now we can look into one more example like this for better understanding of what design is.

The Design of the Car Stereo Volume Knob
The volume control on car stereos is a large circular knob instead of a pair of "increase" and "decrease" buttons is a practical and ergonomic design choice considering several scenarios faced by the driver who is the primary user of the car stereo set.

Easy Identification: A large, circular knob is easily located by a quick touch without the need for the drivers to take their eyes off the road nor slow down the car. This is crucial factor because if the driver is distracted while controlling the volume the it might lead to accidents.

Intuitive Operation: The driver might press the increase volume button instead of the decrease volume button or vice-versa. If the volume button is going to be a circular knob this reduces the human error of pressing the wrong button to the very least percentage.

Quick Adjustments: If the driver needs to drastically increase or decrease the volume then he will have to press the volume buttons several times, but if it is a circular knob then the volume can be controlled with just a twist of wrist.

Continuous Control: When using buttons the volume will increase in either multiples of 5 or 10. If they increase in multiples of 1 then imagine the nuber of times the driver has to press the buttons repeatedly. Instead if we provide a circular knob it allows the user to have finer volume adjustments.

Robust Design: A circular knob is more durable and less prone to failures compared to a pair of volume buttons because when we use buttons we will press it several times reducing its life span very fast. This is important for a car stereo, which is subjected to constant use.

Reduced Complexity: Fewer moving parts mean fewer potential points of failure. This can contribute to the overall reliability and longevity of the car stereo.

In conclusion, the use of a large circular knob for the volume control on car stereos is a design choice that prioritizes accessibility, efficiency, and durability. This design enhances the driving experience by making it easier, safer, and more enjoyable to adjust the sound level.

So with the above two example we hope that you would have got a better understanding about what design is. To truly appreciate the intricacies of design, it's essential to observe and analyze the objects that surround us in our daily lives. By examining how these objects function, we can gain valuable insights into the thought processes and decisions that went into their creation. By making a conscious effort to observe and analyze the objects around you, you can gain a deeper understanding of design and its role in our everyday lives. This practice can also inspire you to create innovative and meaningful designs of your own.