Product design

Netbooks: the really personal computers


15 October 2008

The joys of using a really small, really useful, go-anywhere computer.

Parsimonious design (or not)


17 September 2008

In which we explore the parsimony principle in design with reference to two horribly over-engineered ideas: the Segway personal transporter and ebook readers.

The features you have vs. the features you use


12 September 2008

Of the 21 features on my phone, I use just five. Can’t someone make a phone without all the rest?

Reboxing videos


12 September 2008

We need reboxing videos to show us how to get our tech toys back in their boxes.

Hack your world


16 August 2008

On the web, in the streets and even in the municipal flowerbeds, people are taking design into their own hands.

Simplicity: The humble vernacular kitchen timer


24 November 2007

Just twist and go.
No low-contrast LCD display.
No instruction booklet.
No learning curve.
No fiddly buttons.
No modes.
No batteries.
No battery cover to snap off or lose.
No battery changes.
No weedy digital beep-beep-beep.
£3 delivered.
This is simplicity. Does it really need to be any harder than this?