Chapter 3 What Are Design and Designing? 57 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Socially responsible design can address problems faced by different groups of people. For example, the elderly tend to lose strength and fl exibility as they age. Some elderly people have impaired eyesight and hearing. Others suffer from illnesses that rob them of motor control and mobility. Design for the elderly, therefore, must accommodate these challenges. A key turner helps elders with diminished strength in their hands and fi ngers (Figure 3-22). It is easy to fi nd in a purse or bag and is made in different colors so that keys can be color coded. Socially responsible design can also address problems faced by people using public spaces. For example, designing for lighting that provides good visibility and avoids creating bright spots and shadows protects park users. Planting shrubs that grow no higher than three feet (914 mm) and trimming tree branches up to six feet (1,800 mm) allows for clear lines of sight (Figure 3-23). Strategically designed public buildings minimizes the number of places criminals can hide. Video surveillance cameras deter crime and make users feel safe. Green technologies provide socially responsible design solutions for the increasing demand for food. For example, vertical farming may increase food production by using hydroponics: growing plants without soil under artifi cial light. The soil is replaced with a growing medium, such as coconut fi ber, sand, or gravel, which supply no nutrients. Nutrients are provided using a solution of water and fertilizer (Figure 3-24). Aesthetically Pleasing Aesthetics are a set of principles that have to do with our fi ve senses: sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. An object that is aesthetically pleasing to you means that you like how it looks, sounds, feels, smells, or tastes. You will probably have an emotional response to the object. Beautiful products encourage people to keep them for a long time. The importance of aesthetic appeal in design is obvious to us in the products we use every day. Sometimes it is the material used to make a product that appeals to our senses. Solid wood has a grain, color, and texture that invite us to touch it. Leather is warmer to touch and, therefore, more inviting than metal. The Wright Stuff, Inc. Figure 3-22. This key is designed for people who have diminished strength in their hands. What everyday products could be redesigned for people with disabilities? Peter Radacsi/Shutterstock.com Figure 3-23. This park was designed with safety in mind. What are some of the features? SPREAD Co., Ltd. Figure 3-24. This hydroponic greenhouse is capable of producing 21,000 heads of lettuce per day.