How Design Shapes Our World

Design is fundamental. From the moment you wake up, you come into contact with objects that have been designed to some extent. From the toothbrush you put in your mouth to the cup you use for your tea or coffee, from the newspaper you read to the car you drive to work in – everything is a result of the design process. But how did all of this come to be? Let's take a journey back in time.

One of the earliest examples of design can be traced back to when the first emperor of China was waging war against his enemies to expand his territory. One of his problems was that each of his archers made their own arrows. Consequently, if an archer died, a fellow archer couldn't grab the arrow from his quiver and continue shooting at the enemy, because the arrow didn't fit his bow. So, the first emperor and his advisors decided to standardize the design of the arrows so that each arrow would fit any bow.

Fast forward to 2007 in San Francisco, California. A man in his 50s, wearing a black turtleneck, is about to introduce the world to a revolutionary new product – something that would change personal computing and the way we communicate. You probably know what it is: the iPhone. Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO at that time, hyped it as three products in one – the already successful iPod, a phone, and an internet communicator. For many people, the iPhone's main appeal was the touch screen, which seemed unreal and futuristic. Its sleek design, intuitive interface, and app ecosystem transformed the concept of a mobile phone into a multifunctional device that encompassed communication, productivity, entertainment, and more. Since its release, the iPhone has sold over 2.6 billion units, has been updated multiple times, and continues to be a mainstay in the smartphone market.

Now, remember your toothbrush? A team of designers was tasked with generating ideas and prototypes that would not only perform the basic functions you expect from a toothbrush but also make it ergonomic and visually appealing at the same time. This principle applies not only to the object itself but also to its packaging and how it was advertised.

Technology has drastically changed our lives in the last two decades, to the extent that we look at our phones 220 times a day, according to a British study. The digital world dictates the rhythm of our lives, and it is not by accident, but by design.

Design is not just about making things look good. Design is about making things useful, creating effortless experiences, and simultaneously being visually appealing. It's the ability to amend the imperfect, make sense of disorder, and give form to ideas that shape the future and our lives. That's how design shapes our world.

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