Small Things Considered

Why There Is No Perfect Design

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Last edited by MARC Bot
July 7, 2019 | History

Small Things Considered

Why There Is No Perfect Design

  • 2.00 ·
  • 1 Rating
  • 5 Want to read
  • 0 Currently reading
  • 1 Have read

The ultimate context of design is, of course, the human user. Many designed things are "one size fits all," and so if they fit anyone perfectly, it is a statistical coincidence. This being so, all the rest of us must make do. Sometimes we can shop around and try a different brand or model of a designed object, hoping to find the one that seems to have been made for us. Most likely, we never find such a thing, and so we compromise in our choice, selecting a less attractive chair because it is more comfortable or picking an uncomfortable chair because it looks more striking in our living room. We learn to live in a world of imperfect things, just as we do in a world of imperfect fellow human beings. If we cannot find a pair of shoes that is a perfect fit for us, and if we cannot or do not wish to spend the money to have our shoes custom-made, then we choose a pair whose looks and fit are as close to what we want as we can find. We think, therefore we design. Indeed, there is barely anything that we do, much less use, that does not have a design component to it. - p. 15.

Publish Date
Publisher
Alfred A. Knopf
Language
English
Pages
304

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Previews available in: English

Edition Availability
Cover of: Small Things Considered
Small Things Considered: Why There Is No Perfect Design
September 14, 2004, Vintage, Vintage Books
Paperback in English
Cover of: Small Things Considered
Small Things Considered: Why There Is No Perfect Design
September 16, 2003, Alfred A. Knopf
Hardcover in English

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Book Details


Published in

New York

Table of Contents

The nature of design
Looking at design
Design, design everywhere
Illuminating design
Driven by design
Design in a box
Labyrinthine design
Design out of a paper bag
Domestic design
Folk design
Kitchen-sink design
Off-the-shelf design
Familiar design
Design by the numbers
Selective design
A brush with design
Design hits the wall
Design rising

Classifications

Library of Congress
TA174 .P4738 2003

The Physical Object

Format
Hardcover
Pagination
288 p.
Number of pages
304
Dimensions
9.4 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
Weight
1.4 pounds

ID Numbers

Open Library
OL8362921M
Internet Archive
smallthingsconsi00petr
ISBN 10
1400040507
ISBN 13
9781400040506
LCCN
2002192470
Library Thing
71308
Goodreads
1562035

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History

Download catalog record: RDF / JSON
February 14, 2020 Edited by MARC Bot remove fake subjects
July 7, 2019 Edited by MARC Bot import existing book
July 22, 2017 Edited by Mek adding subject: In library
November 11, 2014 Edited by Bryan Tyson Edited without comment.
October 18, 2009 Created by WorkBot add works page