Can design actually make us happy?

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Permalink Reply by Taylor Martin on November 25, 2008 at 1:25am

I had an excellent meal and service at the Steak 'n' Shake at Post Road. The waitress, Katrina, was personable and not intrusive to our meal conversation. The Egg Nog shake my wife had, was delivered at the proper time and did not have to be asked for a second time. She also liked my Batman themed vest and expressed how much she loved The Dark Knight and Heath Ledger as "Joker."

So, a meal out with my wife, with fresh food and a fresh face. What could be happier?

Taylor

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Permalink Reply by Nicole Bickett on November 25, 2008 at 9:03am

Pat - So glad that you asked this question! We spend so much time talking about beautiful design but forget other elements that are just as important as beauty.

I have to say that I absolutely love www.greencandy.com. It is a financial site (normally insert boring here) that appears to be designed to be colorful, happy, and cheery. Plus, the guy that runs the site (Pete the Planner) is a former comedian! And he's actually funny! He takes a serious and boring topic - finances - and puts color, liveliness, and happiness to it. When you sign into the site, some of the videos are seriously hilarious. And there are pops of things around the site like places to "refer your peeps" and what to do when "shizzle happens." You have to check it out - it will really make you happy! And, as a bonus, you get real live practical tips, assessments, worksheets, and action plans to manage your finances.

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Permalink Reply by Nicole Bickett on November 25, 2008 at 9:09am

Oh, and I checked and the site was designed by Raquel Richardson of Silver Square (www.silversquareinc.com).

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Permalink Reply by Joe Shoemaker on November 25, 2008 at 9:08am

I believe that your initial question, Pat, goes directly to the heart of what makes Design (capital "D" purposefully) so relevant.

Sometimes in my daily life experience, I encounter spaces or materials or objects which are so well designed - so intentionally created to - that I almost don't notice them. A door handle into a restaurant that perfectly fits into my hand. A chair that invites me to sit in it. The computer I stare at all day with such clean lines that it disappears into my experience.

I think about going to the Museum of Modern Art. Walking into the lobby, I immediately relaxed. The proportions of the space gave me permission to exhale. The light streaming through into the sculpture garden was a treat to my eye. And in one gallery was a display full of everyday objects. Razors and toasters. Lighters and headphones. Watering cans and forks. All of them objects we have the possibility of choosing to use on a regular basis, and all of them created with the full intention of having the form of the object support and compliment its use.

Is beauty subjective? Is there a universal aesthetic? I'm not sure. I do know that - in my own experience - when I encounter materials which have been so obviously created with such attention, I feel happier.

We're also very fortunate to have in our midst some extraordinary Designers. I'll not name names because I'll surely leave someone out. But I see their work around our town. I experience their efforts when I attend a function. I use their work when I visit a website. I am prompted to think when I read their writing.

I am grateful for the Designers who have worked to make my life better in sometimes very small ways.

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Permalink Reply by Mark R Platt on November 25, 2008 at 1:05pm

I was coming back home from northern Indiana and saw the Nestle plant sign off I-69. I am happy to see the plant because that surrounding area is in need of investment. I really like the huge rabbit sign there, it made me smile and wanted hot chocolate.

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Permalink Reply by Wanda Stine on November 25, 2008 at 1:51pm

God is the designer and here's the design: My son Noah, who is 8 years old, was in our van in a Marsh parking lot along with his five sisters and one brother, when he saw an elderly white-haired lady walk out of the store and get into her car. She had a couple bags of groceries and got along just fine to her car. Upon seeing her, Noah shouted loudly, "Wait! where's that old ladies crotch?" Everyone of my children along with myself, gasped in horror of his question. Then his big brother, who's 11 and knows him very well, said "Noah, you mean a crutch! And not every old lady needs one!" He was referring to a cane I think, but this kept me giggling as I kept playing the shock over and over in my head. Not something you hear your kids say very often! It was an opportunity as well, to redirect his minds image of the elderly. (they are not just wrinkled people with white hair who carry sticks--------they are amazing human beings who have the experience that everyone else could and SHOULD learn from!). And besides that, God willing, you'll be elderly one day!

God is awesome to bless us with kids! They keep me going when I don't want to, and laughing so hard that a blah day turns into quite a joyful experience (sometimes). In any case, my kids compliment my knack for being grumpy at times. God is such a Great Designer!!!

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Permalink Reply by Amy Stark on November 25, 2008 at 4:01pm

I read the original post and scanned through a couple of pages of comments before I watched the TED Talk. Sagmeister’s commentary about the subway design story made me laugh really hard and I tried to imagine something where the actual design made me feel happy.

Beside the Sitar Hero mashup (which sill cracks me up every time I think about it) I thought about a painting from the National Gallery in DC. Gerome’s “Pygmalion and Galatea” (ca 1890) is the epitome of design, and it always fills me with a sense of awe and happiness. I stood in front of the original piece (below left) for a very long time one day-- a few years ago.

Pygmalion designed and sculpted a perfect woman, then he fell in love with her and she came to life. Galatea’s lower legs and feet are part of the original white marble foundation and the gradation from the cold lifeless stone to the warm flesh tones of her torso and arms is amazingly subtle. From way up close, to way far away, this piece of art celebrating design is breathtaking. Thanks for reminding me about it, Pat.

As a bonus, I found another art piece (below right) by bananasfritters on www.worth1000.com -- Out of Bounds Art Competition. The Escher-like designs, also made me feel happy =)

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Permalink Reply by Cissi Sherlock on November 26, 2008 at 12:36pm

Wow!

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Permalink Reply by Cissi Sherlock on November 26, 2008 at 12:36pm

Will and I have a word the we use when everything is going good and we are satisfied with the outcome. We will say, "Genesis!"
Without saying more words, we are saying to each other, "And God saw that it was good." (Genesis 1:10)

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Ball on November 26, 2008 at 4:25pm

Humor: when I see that everything is going well, I duck...

I like your Genesis phrase. May have to steal it.

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Permalink Reply by Cissi Sherlock on November 26, 2008 at 4:40pm

Sure!!!

Go ahead!

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Permalink Reply by Michelle Padilla on November 26, 2008 at 11:26pm

The Colour Lovers blog always makes me smile. There are interesting art postings (a recent favorite of mine was the one on Rubik's Cubism) and I absolutely adore the color palates that are pulled from all sorts of nooks and crannies in real life. It actually inspires me to create!

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