Creativity From Without

Image courtesy of foshiznik.com

 

          If a designer's creations came only from inside their head with no influence from the outside world, it would make for pretty boring design after a while. During the late 90's, Jonathan Ives was one designer who was determined to break out of the mould of computer design of the time that emphasized speed and performance over form and approachability. He is one of the most influential designers who has repeatedly redefined our perception of design in technology and how it interfaces with its users by designing beautiful products that are easy to use. Taking inspiration from outside the beige box of what most computers looked like in 1997, he looked to nature and the world around him to design the now iconic iMacs, with their round, candy colored design. Inspirations included a grapefruit, the color of the water at Bondi beach and a visit to a jelly bean factory to understand how to make a plastic shell shape look attractive and inviting. The iMac G4, with its round base, and flat panel screen supported by a rotatable stem was inspired by a sunflower in Steve Jobs' garden, the CD-ROM slot in the base giving it the look of a human face.

courtesy of freefoto.com

courtesy of designmuseum.org

        Those early models may be out of date now, but they have changed forever society's perceptions of what computers can look like, and the ease with which they can be operated. Ives went on to design the iPod, the MacBook Pro, the iPhone, and the iPad; designs that keep redefining our relationship with technology.
    Finding inspiration outside of what is the standard in similar products is one of Apple's greatest strengths: they start with a big idea for a need in society that doesn't yet exist and refine it to perfection. Jonathan Ives is a great example of how great design can change society, but also one that shows where inspiration for great design is found. Finding inspiration outside your consciousness, in the real world is a great thing to incorporate into designing because then to others, your design will be a relateable reflection of the world they see everyday. The most creative design tries to think outside what is already known and considered safe. One should admire what has been done before, but try to find a new design solution that runs ahead of the pack, propelling society forward into a new era of representation in design. 

See Articles:
http://designmuseum.org/design/jonathan-ive
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_39/b4002414.htm