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During my visit to the Thomas Edison Museum in West Orange, New Jersey, I expected to see inventions. What I did not expect was to be struck by design. Beyond the machinery and historical artifacts, what truly held my attention were the posters, packaging, typography, and product forms. Standing in front of them, I kept thinking: how did they create such beautiful, intentional designs long before Figma, Adobe, or any digital tools existed?

One of the pieces that stayed with me was the “Enclosed Ediphone” advertisement. The typography felt architectural. The letters had depth, dimension, and movement. The word “Hoodstyle” was arranged diagonally, almost sculptural in form, creating visual rhythm without any digital 3D tools. Every shadow, every perspective line, was drawn by hand. Designers at that time relied on rulers, drafting tables, ink pens, and meticulous hand-lettering techniques. There was no “undo” button. Every stroke required confidence and precision.

What fascinates me most is how constraints shaped excellence. Early printing processes like letterpress and lithography required separate plates for each color. That meant every additional color increased production cost. Designers had to think strategically. They leaned heavily on contrast, hierarchy, and composition rather than decorative excess. Limitation forced clarity. Instead of overwhelming the viewer, they focused on strong structure and memorable visual impact.

The Edison Albainite spark plug packaging is another powerful example. The bold orange and black color combination feels surprisingly modern. The repetition of the “Edison” name across the box creates immediate brand recall. There is no clutter. No unnecessary elements. Just confident typography and strong contrast. This was branding before brand guidelines, before digital systems, before automated templates. Consistency was achieved through discipline and craftsmanship, not software.

What struck me even more was the persuasive language used in the advertisements. Phrases like “The handsomest, most compact, most convenient dictating instrument ever built” demonstrate an early understanding of value proposition. Long before UX research frameworks and A/B testing, designers and marketers understood aspiration. They understood pride in ownership. They understood how to position a product not just as functional, but desirable. Design was not decoration. It was communication and persuasion.

These artifacts reminded me that great design has never been dependent on tools. Tools accelerate execution, but they do not replace taste, judgment, or storytelling. The designers of that era worked with drafting tables, mechanical typesetting, physical paste-ups, and printing presses. Revisions were time-consuming and costly, which meant decisions were deliberate. Design was slower, but perhaps deeper.

Walking through the museum felt like stepping into a masterclass on fundamentals. Technology evolves, but principles endure. Clarity, hierarchy, emotional resonance, brand memory, and intentional form have always been at the heart of meaningful design. Figma did not invent design. It simply made iteration faster.

As designers today, we have the privilege of speed. But visiting the Thomas Edison Museum reminded me that timeless design comes from thoughtfulness, not software. The craft existed long before pixels. And in many ways, those early works continue to teach us what truly great design looks like.

Mr. Sanyam Bhat
Wednesday, February 25, 2026

At Deloitte. it's believed in creating tools that simplify lives and drive meaningful progress!

I have always  believed  that,  technology  we discover should make life easier, not harder. That’s why Human Computer Interaction (HCI) is so important. HCI is all about designing technology that works well for people—tools and systems that are easy to use, helpful, and fit into our daily lives without causing frustration. 

What is Human Computer Interaction? 

HCI is the study of how people interact with computers and technology. It’s not just about making sure a system works—it’s about making sure it works for you . Think about tools like voice assistants (like Siri or Alexa) or apps that let you do things with just a few taps. These didn’t happen by accident. They were designed with real people in mind, focusing on what makes sense and feels natural.

Why Does HCI matter in Business? 

In the workplace, bad design can waste time, confuse employees, and even cost money. On the other hand, good design can make people more productive, improve customer experiences, and help businesses grow. I have seen Deloitte, helping companies roll out software that’s not only technically strong but also easy for employees to use. By listening to feedback and testing designs, we make sure the tools actually help people do their jobs better.

How Will HCI Shape the Future? 

As technology keeps changing, HCI will become even more important. Things like artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), and smart devices are becoming part of everyday life. Imagine wearing glasses that guide you through a task or having an assistant that predicts what you need before you ask. These ideas are already here, and they’ll only get bigger. But with these advances come challenges. How do we keep people’s data safe? How do we make sure AI treats everyone fairly? These are questions we need to answer as we build new tools.

How Can We Make HCI Better? 

Improving HCI takes teamwork. Designers, engineers, and business leaders need to work together to understand both the tech and the people using it. Companies like Deloitte can lead the way by focusing on solutions that put people  first. If you’re interested in HCI, start small. Look at the tools you use every day. What’s Asking helps these you easy? What’s frustrating? kinds think like of an questions HCI designer. There are also lots of courses and resources to learn more if you want to dive deeper.

Wrapping Up

Human-Computer Interaction isn’t just a fancy term—it’s about making technology work for us. At Deloitte, it's believed that when we design with people in mind, we create tools that make life better. Whether it’s helping employees at work or improving customer experiences, HCI plays a big role in shaping the future. So next time you use your phone or log into a program, take a second to notice how it works. Is it easy? Could it be better? If you’re curious, there’s never been a better time to learn more about HCI and help shape the future of technology. 

Mr. Sanyam Bhat, Alumni, Deloitte Connect
Tuesday, March 04, 2025