From this week’s reading, I’d like to respond to Artful Design Principle 3.17, Chapter 3, which proposes:
- The narrative and meaning of a system reflects onto human users whose interactions influence the system, which articulates its elements.
- Elements are assembled in a logical and nuanced way into a system, made up of forms & action + motion.
- Function gives rise to forms & actions, while motion imbues personality.
This model of multi-modal design breaks down design into a hierarchical, yet iterative process of a system.
Previously, I considered design to be prescriptive. I had the philosophy that design is dictated by the designer’s choices, and I neglected the idea that interactions make up a part of the design as well. In retrospect, I now understand that the interactions in design are perhaps the most impactful. They shape the perception and aesthetic goals of a design, as well as its creation and interpretation.
When I read about this principle, I thought about the simple children’s toy of Play-Doh. In function, Play-Doh is clay, moldable and malleable to one’s imagination. However, its form comes in soft, squishy, colorful containers that blend and change with just the warmth of your hands.
The physicality of motion is expressed through the twisting, turning, and squeezing of the material, giving it the unique personality of being expressive and dynamic without high stakes.
Unlike other similar materials like polymer clay that are firm and unforgiving to the touch, Play-Doh is soft and ever-changing, which reflects the interactions of its target audience, primarily children (and bored college students procrastinating their homework). Its cool, pliable surface is also calming and inviting.
In this sense, Play-Doh presents a narrative connecting the functional and the aesthetic. The user can engage with Play-Doh physically as a toy and as an artistic vessel, as seen through Jeff Koon’s “Play-Doh” sculpture. In the context of Play-Doh, this model highlights the importance of the narrative (creative expression and imaginative play), human interactions (hands-on shaping and molding), system elements (color variety and tools), and functionality (encouraging creativity and fine motor skills).
As a designer, I am inspired to think about how design harmonizes aesthetic and functional goals for an end-user. Acknowledging how interactions shape the narrative of a design’s use, I recognize design as a relationship between the designer and the designed for. Through the example of Play-doh, I understand that form, function, and interaction all must work together to imbue personality. Despite it not being an audio-visual tool, it explores the concepts of space, expression, and modalities that are key to artful design.
