Product Design form Follows its Function: The FFF Principle in Application (Essay Sample)

Product Design form follows its function
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Form follows function
Introduction
The design of a product is influenced by several factors such as function, material, technology and style. The term design applies to both the external look and the functional construction of an object. "Form follows function" (FFF) is an important principle of product design coined by Louis Sullivan, an American Architect (Sullivan, 2009, 12). The first American modern architect meant that the structural appearance of an object or item must primarily be based on the intended purpose of its application. According to this definition, a design is not just about the physical features but goes to the extent of helping one use the product. The functionality of a product for instance in interior design would be the major focus when representing its design requirements (Sullivan, 2009, 12). According to Rendell et al., (2012, 59160) Steve, opines that design is not just what it looks and feels like but how it works. In consumer goods, attractive design is the guiding rule but in most industrial items it plays a secondary role. The design team’s task is to ensure first of all that the product being designed is fit for purpose. Products have diverse functions. For instance, they may be intended to inform, entertain, carry some other contents or move something or someone from one point to another. Some products may have more than one function as a package is not only for the protection of its contents but also to pass information about what it contains, mostly provides a display means in a shop and sometimes a means to make it easy to carry. Some packages are to be thrown away after use while others are re-used during the product’s life. Making a product safe and easy to dispose of also is a function of design. Good designs express place and time, it possesses an appropriate character to its use and passes information about its purpose clearly (Reinertsen, 2009, 27). The paper is an essay that presents a discussion to prove that design form must follow its function.
The FFF principle in Application
Sullivan’s quote has been applied in several fields, not only architecture. It makes sense today that the style of any object must reflect its purpose. Digital technology has tried to major on aesthetics and customer need but in most cases Sullivan’s philosophy must be at the center of their designs (Sullivan, 2009, 13). It would be of no meaning to have a good looking product that doesn’t function; that would be useless. Fanciness in design may excite the customers but until the functionality is tested, there is no satisfaction that one bought the right product. Pahl et al. (2013, 58) found out that in industrial design, it is true to say that the form of a product must precede its function. For instance, a teapot that looks attractive but fails to pour its contents properly cannot be classified as good design. Beach Design Technologies, specialists in interior design, believe in their application of the FFF principle (Morrison et al., 2010, 12). The designers believe that design must be planned with a purpose in mind. Their chief design technician, Robert Kelly, articulates that the logical way to design a space first begins with one determining the primary function of the space. He further opines that it is essential to plan for the purpose and users of the space before thinking of the color schemes to include (Morrison et al., 2010, 12). According to Beach design Tech, it is exciting and more fun to participate in putting everything together but without understanding the rooms use, the right accent pieces will not be added. It is clear that planning with the purpose in mind will automatically lend itself to the other details that need attention later on. A perfect room design is reached at by allowing the room follow the intended function. Of importance to note is that interior design has never been a permanent move. The design schemes change from time to time. Thus, the space function remains as the primary concern. In other terms, it is hard to change the function of a given space once the room is established. On this basis then creating a room that is mostly focused on the finer details and design makes it difficult to the user to change the interior décor because of the poorly designed space. Sticking to the function first leaves a solid floor plan that is easy to work from and make changes as well. Frank Wright, an architect in exterior design, always uses the same rule of "function first" (Krekels, 2015, 5). An interior design effort that follows function ahead of the form will consider cost as well. Extravagance in interior design is experienced mostly by those without a good plan of design. It can be very expensive just to start picking items here and there that would finally construct a room without a clear purpose. Going forward in design, one needs to understand what they aim to achieve and who their target is. In such a manner, the designer can avoid wasteful expenditures on items not required and thus spending handsomely on quality requirements as projected. When functionality is given an upper hand in interior design comfort is also guaranteed (Mero, 2013, 147).
Even though the digital design era tries to outdo Sullivan’s theory, it is imperative to realize that most individuals go for products that they understand their functionality. First and foremost mostly one would look at the outside appearance and make an inference of what the function of a given new product would be. The style, therefore, plays a vital role in the marketing of such products at any given time. Design becomes a selling point of any industrial product if all the departments realize that perfect designs are all about a translation of their functional specifications. The looks must, therefore, support functionality. In the design of digital clocks, engineer Joseph Pallweber was more motivated by the function of the gadget than the aesthetic value (Cross, 2008, 22). The function of a clock is nothing else but to show time. The designer, therefore, thought to deliver this in a very simple, fast and accurate way. Digital clocks are more accurate in function and take the user a little moment to tell the time, unlike the analog counterparts. Their function also informs the size and shape of the digital wrist watches. The success criteria of the analog clocks cannot be gauged at how they have executed their intended purpose. Analogue clocks would outdo the digital ones if the aesthetic value of these gadgets were the most important to go by. However, it is important to combine the function and the aesthetic value of a product (Lidwell et al., 2010, 123). Researchers in Japan found out that beauty and function work in line with each other. They set up two ATM’s identical in function, how they worked and the number of buttons, but one ATM had more attractively arranged buttons than the other. The researchers found out that users experienced fewer difficulties operating the most attractive machine. Aesthetics tends to trigger people’s positive emotions and influences the way they think of a product but the functionality is still very vital. Good-looking but not functional would discourage the users. The FFF principle is also thoroughly evident in the Guggenheim Museum plan. Over the past five decades, the Wright’s design has housed several exhibitions despite the criticisms it has faced. According to the building’s former director Tom, the architecture can adapt to the changing functional needs without losing its original intention or even its dignity. Until his death, Wright lived to the belief that Guggenheim had stuck to the unity of form and function (Krekels, 2015, 5).
The ability of a product to meet its intended function can be deduced from the outward appearance. Most people who lived in the 19th and 20th century are less often moved by elegant consumer products. They are a large target market who are loyal to their products and producers as well. A change in the in the form that would compromise the functionality of a product loses their preference. The function matters most to such a click of individuals thus a company must make sure that it does its best not to lose them. Conformity to the digital design theories is almost inevitable but what drives a new design idea is the application of the product in question. Any additional features to make a product attractive is secondary to the designer. In Web design if the function is limited, the users would be disappointed (Hsiao et al., 2010, 239). There is a dire need to have a continuous relationship between the function and form. The purpose of a given site must relate to its form directly. Determining the appropriate form of a site requires that the function is defined clearly. In web design, a successful design makes its functional site much better. Google’s home page is more than just a search box. Despite the addition of several links the search engine still performs its primary function (Orme, 2010, 43). The sparse design criteria have guided the Google's early success, unlike other search engines. The Google Company made it easy for their users such that they only need to type a word in the box at the homepage and press the search button. Google has remained a brand all through. Craigslist is another brand whose design is functional. Many thought the website could employ redesign, but the Craigslist users have found contentment in the web despite it not being appealing aesthetically. Just like Google, Craigslist success is based on its functional considerations. The website’s presentation makes it easy for a new user to learn how to use it (Monmasson et al., 20...