March 2007
The Design of Everyday Things
The Design of Everyday Things
by Donald A. Norman
I recommend this book with a warning: The book is redundant and while Norman makes some very compelling points, his logic is often incomplete and/or flawed altogether. He’s a self-proclaimed pragmatist who sees little to no value in aesthetic whimsy. I do not agree with him on these points, but the book is still worth a read.
The Tipping Point
The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
by Malcolm Gladwell
Nice light “Junk” reading, full of fun and interesting anecdotes if nothing else. Gladwell has a tendency to jump to conclusions prematurely, and his logic is not always strictly correct. But the book is worth reading, if only for the fun case studies.
Cradle To Cradle
Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things
by William McDonough and Michael Braungart
This book was a huge influence on my wife and I. We suddenly came to the realization that one can be practical, pragmatic, and even optimistic when thinking about and acting on our environmental future. A nice easy read, and well worth it!
The Effective Executive
The Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done
by Peter F. Drucker
This book, read in parallel with Cradle to Cradle, literally changed the way I think about the world. A must-read for anyone who wishes to be effective in any capacity, not just “executives.” Read it!
I am not a stylist.
One annoyance for industrial designers everywhere is the widespread perception among engineers that designers are on-staff to “pretty [the product] up” at the end of the design process. This mindset branches from a fundamental misconception about the contribution of industrial designers to the holistic good of a product.
(more…)
Boston or bust!
My lovely wife Robin has been accepted to Harvard Divinity to study Islam as relates to art history and conservation (she plans to be an art conservator). So we’re off to Boston! We visited this past weekend, and just loved it.
So I’m looking for jobs in the Boston area. If you have any connections up there, help a brotha’ out!