48 Technology: Engineering Our World Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. The arrangement of items needed by the cashier to wrap your food and process your payment is the result of a designer’s work. In a similar way, the buses you ride, bus tickets, bus timetables, and routes have all been designed. The Principles of Good Design Most people have a favorite chair. Usually it is a favorite because it is comfortable to sit in while reading a book or watching TV. Sometimes a chair is fun to look at as well as to sit in. A chair can also make an activity easier or more enjoyable because it has been designed for a particular purpose, such as sitting at an offi ce desk or on the beach. This does not mean the chair is well designed. For example, an infl atable chair can be easily punctured. People do not always agree on whether or not a particular product is an example of good design (Figure 3-8). So, what is good design? Many famous designers have tried to defi ne it. Each time, the designers focus on one idea: designing is fi rst and foremost about people, about the users of products and services. For example, one characteristic of good design is that it makes people’s lives easier. The spoon shown in Figure 3-9A allows people whose hands shake due to old age, illness, or disability to eat easily spilled foods. Anyone who has ever had trouble removing an electric plug from a socket can appreciate the product shown in Figure 3-9B. Making peoples’ lives easier, while very important, is not the only characteristic of good design. Designers generally agree that for a product to be well designed, swkimdesign Figure 3-9. Well-designed products. A—What other products might benefit people with special needs? B—This easy-to-remove plug also has an illuminated center that reminds the user to unplug it when not in use. A B S’Up Products Ltd. Venus Angel/Shutterstock.com Figure 3-8. Chairs are made in many shapes and sizes. What other purposes can chairs serve? Herman Miller