我不傾向這麼快便把問題算到設計師的頭上。記得游靜那篇文刊出來時(其實是有關watson蒸漏水水樽的設計的批評)，我們一班朋友在電郵中也討論過，其中一位在英國讀書的朋友的發言，我想相當有point，而我想他也不會介意我轉貼於此。我想我的朋友可能對，問題可能不在設計師的身上﹕

Interesting. But I think rather than asking who design it or how good/bad is the design, "WHY" it is design that way will be a more important question. So is it just some stupid designer with bad ideas?

Ar... Where is the part of designer in the matter of bottle water design anyway?

The first question she asks is the size. First, there is the marketing team being asked to find new product and they do all the research and make sure that there is a market for the bottle water of such size. And they look in to other brand to see if they got similar stuff ,how bad will the competition be etc .And finally its up to the supermarket to decide if they are going to put them on selves or not . And usually the size is 1Lit 2L half L. Whatever easy to measure and produce, and never base on human daily intake. So for the size, no part for the designer here.

Then they calculate does the market volume worth opening a new production line for the product, labour cost, equipment cost, extra cost for storage (storage for one size is always cheaper then storage for 2 sizes), and most importance the bottle cost, yeah the bottle was usually more expensive then the water inside, and smaller the bottle, the higher it cost relate to the whole production cost. So it may also explain why the bottle is so thin, cheaper. And as a by product of oil, it really matter these days, since oil isn't cheap. The designer wasn't here yet.

So finally, we only left with the bottle cap that can't be open? So we sure it is a bad design then? But wait, here comes the designer’s part. Yep, ever wonder what that little thin layer is for? The silly little thing you have to get rid every time? To keep the water clean and save? For your health and safety? no no no no , its not for us . Since the bottle is being made so thin to save cost, it’s more difficult for the company to store and transport the product. They can’t stockpile it high on top of each another, the bottle was too thin and wasn’t able to bare the pressure, and water might leak out. Here’s the designer’s solution. Give it a strong and hard to open cap, a big one too, to support the weight and pressure. And of course a little tap to avoid water leak too. That pretty big cap wasn’t that big because they want it to act as a little cup. It’s about they can store and transport more each time and cut the cost . It’s all about cost and profit. The part about why the product is still there on the market is really right. IT IS CHEAP.

So when I read the part “the design haven’t improve peoples living stranded of the people using it, it doesn’t make it easier to use … … “I found it really lovely, and hell yeah, it’s really what should be teach to the uni student - “To make the world a better place”. But in reality, it is not a matter of good or bad design, but what and who the design is for. Usually not for us. One thing is sure , always for profit .

Really, its not about good design against bad design, its about their profit against our pocket . So BYOB ! Just brings your own bottle next time! Cheaper and much less waste.

先前都有電話公司比人告啦.
我又打死都唔信無一種既適合人類使用又有型格的設計