On our second field trip to the MoMA we got to see a part of the museum that featured design galleries. They even had a design store across the street that was dedicated to objects of different design that can be used everyday. In these exhibits we got to see different types of objects that have high functionality and some objects that had low functionality. I had chose two objects for each category and questioned if it could have high or low functionality.
For "high functionality" I chose the objects "Out of the Box" and "Final Home 44-Pocket Parka. What makes the "Out of the box" so ergonomic was that is was just one big box with everything you needed it in. Instead of going to different rooms for a couch or a bed or a kitchen it was just all there in one big box. Inside of this box there was a bed , a couple of draws, a couch , lamp , desk , place to put television etc. This would come in handy for someone who lives in a small apartment. What made the "Final Home 44-Pocket Parka" ergonomic was it can store any little thing inside the jacket and you don't have to worry about putting it or searching for stuff in a large bag. This is perfect for camping because you can have everything on you and you don't have to look for your stuff in a large camping bag. Both of these objects can make our everyday lives easier and help use save time.
For "low functionality" I chose the objects "Forks" and "Newspaper Coasters". I chose "Forks" as low functionality because the forks where designed in such a strange way that I don't even think you can pick up food with them. In my opinion they are better off being decoration rather than eating utensils. I chose "Newspaper Coasters" as the second low functionality object because they were pointless. If someone drinking something ice cold the water droplets from the drink would just run off the glass, on to the coaster and the coaster would just get wet,soggy and can no longer be used. At the price of $10 anyone could have made these at home with their own newspapers and some scissors. Both these object are both purposeless. They have no decent function and people cant really find use for them. To make the coasters more ergonomic the designer could have place some type of plastic mold over the newspaper that way it can prevent the paper from being destroyed. With the forks the designers could have made them slightly more straight but then again if he did that there would be no creativity in the designs.
In my opinion I feel that not all objects have to be highly functional to be a good design. It can be low functional but the design can still be creative and interesting. I feel that art and design are not always two separate ideas. The design of something makes it into art and that's where they both kind of meet.
In conclusion these were the pieces I've chose for high and low functionality. Even though I thought the low functionality object had no function at all they can still be defined as art work. These items can be used as decor while the other object are use for out everyday lives.
Kosuke Tsumura
"Final Home 44-Pocket Parka"
1994
Name Not Given
"Out of the Box Italy"
1960s-1980s
Bruno Munari
"Forks"
1958
Ela Cindoruk
"Newspaper Coasters"
2007
