The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Hello World!

We have all had the experience of truly loving an idea, a concept, a particular design or went the other way and lost our minds over something that was not fit for its purpose and failed us greatly.

I am an artist and appreciate good designs as opposed to the ones that make you wonder what they were doing during their production meetings. I like the below principle.

“Form follows function is a principle associated with modernist architecture and industrial design in the 20th century. The principle is that the shape of a building or object should be primarily based upon its intended function or purpose.”

So let’s look at two very good ideas, at least in my opinion, and two very badly designed items.

Sony Earbuds – not made for ears!

Extra bass! Yay! But if I have a hard time getting them into my ears then where is the point of having them? I have lost my Skullcandy earbuds and had to buy new ones at the airport recently. The choice was slim and they were all in boxes so I couldn’t take a good look at them, plus pressing time catching a plane. Then I saw these for 20€ and thought they’ll do for now. The fact they had them in my favourite colour was an added bonus.

Earbuds (Sony)

Little did I know that I would have a hard time getting these into my ears. First, you have to ensure to pair the left one with your left ear and the right one with your right ear. Otherwise they won’t fit at all. They are quite big, the material is rather hard and therefore they are not very comfortable to wear. Perhaps my ears are too delicate! So thumbs down from me.

Staying with airports and planes. Don’t we all love the middle seat?! Unless you are travelling with people you are close to, those middle seats are not ideal if you want a bit of space or privacy. Not that there is much on a plane.

The Middle Seat – should there be one?

I am never sure if I am “entitled” to the armrest to my left or to my right, or both? Either way, while not trying to get too close to the neighbouring shoulders I am framed with, I will unfold the table top in front of me and rest my case there. So for me it’s definitely worth spending the extra cash to book the seat I feel comfy in as far as airplane comfort goes.

The Middle Seat (airplane seat row)

Now, on to the good ones!

Screwpull Bottle Opener

I love wine, our group project in college was about wine (www.winecatchers.com). I’m getting better of finding good wines. In order to get the “juice” out of the bottle, you need to open it. Easy if it is a screw cap. Not so easy when there is a cork. Bottle between the legs, pulling like crazy. Bottle on the floor between the feet pulling like crazy. Pulling so hard, because the cork screw is stuck, that you break the cork by ripping bits out of it. Still no wine. Alternatively, you manage to remove the corkscrew and force the cork into the bottle. Cool, when you are alone, not so cool when you have guests. You may want to offer beer instead!

A while back I got a gift, a Screwpull Bottle Opener. “How fancy”, I hear you say. Well, it is. While I failed at first (user error, trying to use it like the old-fashioned ones. doh!), it is the easiest way of getting the cork out of a bottle and a great way to  impress your guests with this gadget. It is easy to use, fast and looks really neat. No more messing around! I cannot believe you don’t have one yet.

Screwpull Bottle Opener (Le Creuset)

Last but not least. Something very simple. Without further ado and introduction, I present you…

Match Sticks!

Mentioned first in a book called the Records of the Unworldly and the Strange written by Chinese author Tao Gu in about 950 AD.

I use them every day not to burn the house down but to light candles (which may burn the house down) and burn incense (to cover up). Kidding!

Match Stick Heart