Think of it like this: If you want to help someone, you don’t start by guessing their age, job, or hobbies. You start by asking, “What are they struggling with?”
Photo by Kseniia Ilinykh on Unsplash
These days, society is all about making things more convenient and providing concierge-like services, which means we don’t have to spend too much time overthinking our everyday lives.
While convenience is meant to save time and improve productivity, it can sometimes hinder our ability to reflect on what truly matters and what we should be focusing on.
I recently came across this intriguing video from NHK, that challenges the way we typically perceive things. It got me thinking about how we can approach design and problem-solving from a different perspective. I was particularly intrigued by the concept of inconvenience design and defying common sense, as it encourages us to view things in unconventional ways.
Design by architect Tanijiri Makoto who focuses on creating a dim environment rather than a bright one. Screen grab from NHK.
It reminded me of an interview with Jonathan Ive where he pointed out that words often guide our subconscious thinking and lead us to specific answers. For example, designing a lunch box, the word ‘box’ gives a different initial and narrow perspective compared to designing a food container.
