Topic 6: Classic Design
Eames Lounge Chair
Braun Radio (left), Apple iPod (right)
1957 Volkswagen Beetle
Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars
Bialetti Moka Coffee Pot
A classic design is not simply defined by how well it functions or its impact. Classic designs can be recognized as from their design movement/era. Yet, originality—whether it is evolutionary or revolutionary—seems to be the trait that makes a product “timeless”.
Classic design holds “form follows function” as a fundamental principle, but this is not always evident in practice. Some products are so well designed with function as their primary goal, that their use is intuitive. As designers develop new technologies, the lines between the form and function of a product continue to blur.