Monday, February 25, 2013

Function in Design

Last week we talked about the 3 criteria design must meet to be good quality: function, materials and aesthetics. Today we are going to talk about what I consider to be the foundation of the 3... Function!


Everything out there must serve a purpose to its fullest potential. Mostly anything can serve as seating but only a chair has been designed for that purpose, and even chairs serve a special purpose. For example,  chairs designed for you to seat comfortably to work for 8 hours are different from those you use at your desk at home for a couple of hours.


This is a very important aspect to consider, because the chair where you sit most of the day {at your home office or work place} has to mold to your body or be ergonomic, made of easy to clean and breathable materials, should have casters to help you move around your work space and allow to adjust the height of it.


Your other chairs can serve the function of being pretty and decorative and have cushions for added comfort. The same principles apply to your lighting: for your desk use one that has a bright light and can be positioned to light your work surface directly, and for your living room use a lamp with a shade that diffuses the light and creates an inviting and cozy atmosphere.


Without function the other two criteria are pointless because everything created serves a purpose. It is important to analyze first if the design has a function and if it fulfills it to the maximum. If it does, then you check out its materials and its aesthetics... or in our case we'll do it in the next couple of weeks!

Finally, if anyone was offended by my plea for disabling to word verification on your blogs I apologize. It was not my intention to offend anyone, especially those who are plagued by spammers... I just wish there was a way to avoid it every time I leave a comment. Thanks!

Have a great week!!!

29 comments:

  1. "Form follows function" - one of the most important things to remember when it comes to design. Great post.

    As for the word verification: It really annoys me and I sometimes give up commenting on blogs because of it - especially when I apparently got it wrong just because the stupid thing so blurred that I can't read it....

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  2. i so miss having a home office. i mean, i'm happy its a nursery now, but i loved my desk!

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  3. Gorgeous spaces, i could do with some spaces like these!! I didn't mind asking about e word verification...I hate them! They are annoying and worthless. They get worse by the minute, small words you can't see. I don't comment on some blogs due to it, why waste my time. You could just approve comments and be done with it, but I think people want to be seen with masses of comments, so their post looks cool - get over yourself, I say!! I rather have my readers less annoyed and able to comment than worry about how many comments I get. Word verification only works to an extent. I prefer to approve the comments & most spam has gone to the spam box for me, so I've been lucky!! Have a wonderful week doll xx

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    1. I meant to say 'some people want to be seen with masses of comments' not all ;)

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  4. Great post again. Always wondeful to stop by and read your inspiration.
    Have a great and beautiful week.

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  5. Loving these office spaces! I need to make mine up like that!

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  6. Lovely post hun...I have to say i do like the aesthetics of beautifully and creatively designed chairs and furniture but most of them are really uncomfortable, so i fully agree on the important aspect of functionality. P.S I was a victim of spamming too, I hope to remove the verification process after a month.

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  7. i wish i had better interior design skills!!

    xx.M
    www.bellesandrebelles.blogspot.com

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  8. I love looking at office spaces, I'm constantly tweaking and adding to mine. Hope all is well with you and that you had a good weekend Elie!
    xo Mary Jo

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  9. great post! agreed that design needs to be funtional as well as pretty to look at!
    -- jackiejade.blogspot.com

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  10. I really like the office with the yellow details. Works for me.
    Best Regards
    Miss Margaret Cruzemark
    http://margaretcruzemark.blogspot.com/

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  11. I'm loving all these amazing photos =D I think interior design is key to one's productivity =D hahaha! I'd be so much more productive if I had a pretty space <3 I totally agreew ith you about word verifications! I think they're soo annoying =(

    Do you have twitter by any chance? Maybe we could keep in touch there =) If you add me, please let me know so I can follow you back!

    http://sensiblestylista.blogspot.com/
    Twitter: Sensiblestylist

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  12. I agree in function 100%!! first function then beauty....I do wonder how some people work on the ghost chair all day....I love it, think its beautiful, but I couldn't use it for work.

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  13. Love those office spaces!! Incredible design elements!
    xoAmy
    www.dreamingincashmere.com

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  14. How right you are! It would be silly to fill your home with beautiful things that were all uncomfortable or useless...

    This is great office inspiration

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  15. Oh I adore that last image. So fantastic!

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  16. So true! Function comes first. Great post :)

    go for the glam

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  17. Great post! I agree with you about the chair needing to be ergonomic - I've learned the hard way with aches and pains.

    Also, I am with you on the word verifications ... they are SUPER annoying. I'm not understanding about people getting upset because they are being spammed? Blogger does a heck of a job filtering it so I think that's just BS ... some peeps just get all up in a tizzy if someone tells them to change something annoying on their blog. Like once, I mentioned to a follower who commented on my blog that she was a no reply blogger and she went on and on about how she didn't want people to find her ... um ok? weird!

    Hope you had a fab weekend!
    Shia
    World According to Shia

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  18. You are so great at writing well worded posts. I love all of these great photos of offices. I really wish I had a home office.

    I have to say that I hate word verification too but then again my blog has been very fortunate to only ever have received a few spam comments.

    Tracy @ Sunny Days and Starry Nights

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  19. Love this office inspiration - especially the pop of yellow in that one image. I REALLY feel strongly about word verification as well, if I can't get it right the first time I usually don't bother leaving a comment. It's unfortunate, but it really just drives me crazy! I think wordpress must get less spam b/c I barely have any spam ever and it's really easy to filter out with the right plugins!

    elle [wonderfelle world]

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  20. Yes yes and YES to function - I feel like so many designers forget that part and focus too much on the other two. It's no good if it's pretty and unloved, right?

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  21. Great post. Function makes the building/office users happy. I agree that function can break a design if not achieved. I've seen poor employees with strained backs working 8 hours 5 days a week in a non-ergonomically friendly chair.

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  22. One of the best tips when it comes to a room. Yes!!!!

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  23. Such a good tip. And isn't this really the hardest part--making it both super functional and very pretty?

    www.GirlwithaNewLife2.com

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  24. great pics as usual, and great tips !!

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  25. I agree, things have to function first. It's important that they are beautiful but if they don't function well then it's not worth the investment.

    I get frustrated by word verification as well. I get a lot of spam but it's mostly caught by blogger and I can just go mark it as spam so it's not a big deal.

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