Monday, October 4, 2010

First memories of design


Baby products are a huge industry. Our modern day society has classes, books, boutiques, how-to movies and parties solely dedicated to the coming, nurturing and caring for babies. The most some of the most iconic products relating to babies seem to be rattles, diapers, bottles and blankets. My token item was a baby blanket and although I do not remember my first interaction with it, this particular blanket served to be my primary experience of a successfully designed product. This particular blanket is a muted baby pink; a classic color for baby girls, and on one side has a print of the silhouette of white ducks. Although I have not come in contact with my childhood friend in many years I remember it as soft, warm and comforting. These all being characteristics one looks for when selecting a blanket to swaddle a helpless smidge of a human. The blanket is not ostentatious, no frills, ruffles, sequins or anything else to distract from its sole purpose. Although it jumps on the gender bandwagon it is hardly on the same level as saturating a baby’s room with ridiculously feminine pink or masculine blue décor. This blanket is simple, functional and innocent. The blanket is no revolutionary item, it does not have a hidden baby monitor woven into the fabric, nor does it have an infant attitude catch phrase such as “Daddy’$ Girl” or “Sleeping Beauty”. However, it is the lack of these floozy design tactics that allow it to capture the essence of the innocence that it is meant to serve.

Especially in the realm of babies and young children, where parental neuroticism can be exploited, designers need to remember that less can be more.

self provided image

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