What makes good design?

Dieter Rams : Ten Principles for Good Design.
Good Design is,
- Innovative
- Useful
- Aesthetic
- Understandable
- Unobtrusive
- Honest
- Long Lasting
- Thorough
- Environmental Friendly
- Little Design As Possible

After reading this, I had an idea of what "good" design is, but the question was, how can i pick out a "good" design. I can use this as a guide, but a "good" design may not fit all of the qualities. All of these are great quality and traits in a design. Everything is designed wether its good or not. Everyone finds a purpose and usage of everything.

For our first project I started off with 5 items, lint roller, alarm clock, keys, wedges and my desk chair. We did sketches of them and were told to do more sketches of "good" design. I decided to sketch measuring cups and this became my object of "good" design. I chose this object because of the many different positions you could draw and the fact that it would be different and fun. Little did i know that i would get tired of drawing of the same thing for weeks. Nonetheless my object fulfills its purpose of measuring. The design isn't fancy, but its simple and unique. It feels good in your hand and its sturdy. It also has variety of sizes to measure.

Don Norman - Designs That Make You Happy

- Designs should be simple beautiful and useful/functional.
- Design is clever.
- Design if fun.
- Design is pleasant & simple.
- Fear and anxiety changes the way you think.
- Intense fear paralyze your brain.
- Design is subconscious , behavioral, reflective.

Design should be fun. Don says that when your under pressure your less likely be able to work because of the anxiety and stress, but when your happy results are guarantee.