Comments on: On Apple’s Industrial Design http://www.devindra.org/tech/2007/06/13/on-apples-industrial-design/ Insight and analysis on everything tech Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:46:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Devindra http://www.devindra.org/tech/2007/06/13/on-apples-industrial-design/#comment-8135 Devindra Thu, 14 Jun 2007 23:02:24 +0000 http://www.devindra.org/tech/2007/06/13/on-apples-industrial-design#comment-8135 <p>Indeed, Apple seems to be an example of design at the extreme. What's interesting is that compared to a company like Lenovo/IBM, which is at the complete <i>opposite</i> end of the spectrum because they emphasize engineering, Apple is doing significantly better in the consumer market. </p> <p>Still, both companies seem stuck in smaller niche markets. What they really need to do is combine the two as you suggest. Only then will they break out of the holes they've basically dug for themselves.</p> Indeed, Apple seems to be an example of design at the extreme. What’s interesting is that compared to a company like Lenovo/IBM, which is at the complete opposite end of the spectrum because they emphasize engineering, Apple is doing significantly better in the consumer market.

Still, both companies seem stuck in smaller niche markets. What they really need to do is combine the two as you suggest. Only then will they break out of the holes they’ve basically dug for themselves.

]]> By: Chris http://www.devindra.org/tech/2007/06/13/on-apples-industrial-design/#comment-7852 Chris Thu, 14 Jun 2007 15:06:58 +0000 http://www.devindra.org/tech/2007/06/13/on-apples-industrial-design#comment-7852 The strength of Apple however is also its weakness. Jobs has a great vision in mind for the look and feel of the products that Apple produces. However, the downside to Apple is that vision is the only one you get. Control? Customizability? Barely present in Apple products and when so, usually more through hacks than built in. Maybe the computer industry should learn something from the car industry about merging design with function. Those are large corporations that tend to do a much better job overall with producing a variety of designs (some functional, some beautiful) with a variety of functionality (some cheap, some durable). And yet most car companies don't have the dictatorial (or should I say Papal?) power that Jobs has. The strength of Apple however is also its weakness. Jobs has a great vision in mind for the look and feel of the products that Apple produces. However, the downside to Apple is that vision is the only one you get. Control? Customizability? Barely present in Apple products and when so, usually more through hacks than built in.

Maybe the computer industry should learn something from the car industry about merging design with function. Those are large corporations that tend to do a much better job overall with producing a variety of designs (some functional, some beautiful) with a variety of functionality (some cheap, some durable). And yet most car companies don’t have the dictatorial (or should I say Papal?) power that Jobs has.

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