Good Design Key

Good Design Key

Many of our most valuable, meaningful, and precious things remain safely untouched behind closed doors by one small, effortless tool: a key. Though some are more aesthetic to the eye by intricate design than others, many of the most useful products are kept simple. I own one of the most fascinating keys, and though it may seem obsolete because it is an antique, it has endured many years of use, which is why I think it is so well designed. It holds a special place in my heart, as well as the lock in our grandmother’s china cabinet.

Dieter Ram's article on ten principle for good design states that to make a product useful it has to be functional and appealing to the eye as well. This key is nothing short of an aesthetic antique because of its lavish curves and sleek finish. Many old fashioned designs attract people at first, until it is not functional and just for show, which makes this key so special because even though it is decades old it still works just as well as when it was made. This object is easy to handle, simple, and beautiful. Its design does not overpower the simplicity of its beauty, and it does not take on a name bigger than its own. It is honest, and it is not so dramatically designed that the object isn't able to let the user put their personal touches on it. So many products are overwhelming with too much detail and too many lines, but going back to Dieter Ram's ten commandments; simple is one of the most essential necessities of a well-designed product.

Our most sacred objects instill memories we have in various ways, and if it isn't long lasting how can we ensure that we will have it years from now? The lines of age and worn patches of silver though out the years give my key its own personality and show the physical proof of a long lasting design. The ten principles for good design really helped me evaluate what it means to have a well-designed product. It is not just appealing to the eye, or just simply useful, or even just a simple and handy tool. It is a combination of all these things. In the words of Dieter Rams, good design is as little as possible.