Design Should Be

I find things far more interesting/attractive/fun if they are designed well.  If they are interesting and unique; different.  Something that catches your eye.  

I really believe that if you were to work at a 9-5 office job and your place of work was a simple grey wall, box cubicle kind of joint .. life could be pretty boring for the workday.  (Now, I know that it's ultimately the people and what you do that would make your work fun.. but design plays a big role)

If you're going to be a designer, why work somewhere that looks bland ? 

I would definitely want to work somewhere that inspires me everyday, somewhere interesting to look at when I'm stuck on what to do next, or out of ideas.  And lets not forget performance.  Not only does design need to look pleasing, but it needs to enhance the quality of living, I mean that's what it's for right?  Right.  It enhances the look of everyday life while making things go smoother.  However, when I say that design should enhance quality of life, I mean this mostly in the types of things like bathtubs, sinks, secret cubbyholes in the walls (because who doesn't want a secret cubbyhole?).  

If you were to live in the jungle -to be extreme with my example- then I'm not saying you need to decorate it.  Just embrace it, mother nature did a great job designing natural life.  When I say a space needs to be intriguing, I mean man made spaces like buildings, homes, shopping centers, libraries, schools, even hospitals.

The space you work in is like a habitat.  It should be comfortable and the atmosphere should be a good one.

...like a habitat... haha **notice the bird nest idea below** ;)

  http://homedesigning.tumblr.com/post/3363122570

I mean, why do people decorate their bedrooms ?  Why put all the work into something for no reason at all?  Just for the fun of it? I don't think so.   I think it's because in the end, it's more exciting, pleasing to the eye, calming, inspiring, or whatever the motivation may be for you.  

There's a reason behind every action we take.

Here's a staircase that makes something so typical like traveling from the second to first floor way more fun !  AND it looks awesome.

http://freshome.com/2010/01/15/amazing-spiral-staircase-slide/

Here's an example of how an exciting or interesting design can make the workplace more pleasing: (this is an office design)

http://www.toxel.com/inspiration/2011/02/22/modern-office-in-paris/

The designs around us; they make the everyday little things more interesting, more engaging. 

Here are a few pictures of designs I personally like:

 

source unknown 

 

http://hippygirls.tumblr.com/post/3033684472

  source unknown

www.homedesigning.tumblr.com

http://www.home-designing.com/2011/02/landscaping-inspiration-hilton-hotel-pattaya-thailand

I had to add this one because I love piano, and this is just plain awesome!

 

http://shanghaiist.com/2007/09/30/piano_house_in_huainan_anhui.php

Finally, here's a really cool video on a staircase that was transformed into a piano keyboard.  When you walk on it, it makes music.  The idea was to see if making the stairs more fun would attract more people to use them instead of using the escalator right beside the stairs.  It's was done by thefuntheory.com