From IEOR 170 Spring 2007

[edit] Good Designs and Bad Designs in Our Everyday Lives

Good Design: Speakers

This is a small travel-size set of speakers. Its purpose is to be convenient to carry around and plug into any audio input device like a mp3 player or a computer. This is an example of good design because:

• It is very compact when folded up for easy transit or storage
• When folded up, it protects the speakers by folding them inside
• When folded up, the outer surface is smooth and curved so it can fit inside your pocket without painful edges.
• There is a groove along the speaker body to fit the cord to attach to input device. The groove is well designed in that once placed in, the cord cannot accidentally fall loose.
• It is easy to open up the speakers for use due to the visible joints on either side showing where the different sections connect and can be flipped open.
• The battery compartment opening has ridged buttons on either side that specify to the user to push the buttons in.
• The speakers can run on either battery or DC power of 6V as marked on the DC outlet.
• There is a red light that turns on and off to signify that the speakers are on or off. This gives the user instant visual knowledge of the state of the system.

Bad Design: Kruyper's Bottle

This is a bottle that stores alcohol meant to be poured into glasses for drinks. Its purpose is to hold the alcohol without spilling and allow for easy pouring. Its contents are not meant to be guzzled straight from the bottle. Given such simple specifications, this bottle fails because:

• It is hard to pour because in order to move liquid out, the bottleneck has to be held downward with the bottle lip as the lowest point. Even if you angle the bottle only slightly downward, all the liquid flows out very quickly because the bottleneck is straight.
• It is important for the pourer to have control because Kruyper's is most often used in drink recipes that require very specific amounts of each liquid and too much of one can alter the overall taste significantly.

Kruyper's might have originally chosen and stuck with this bottle design for its distinctive shape. If you go to any liquor aisle, you will find that many liquor companies have their own signature shaped bottle. This bottle shape might simply be Kruyper's way of differentiating itself visually for the user. Kruyper's makes several liquors and each uses this same bottle shape.

Better Design: Kruyper's Bottle

This sketch takes its cue from the motor oil bottle design, which has specifically been designed to allow very controlled pouring. The long sloped bottleneck allows users to pour slowly and accurately.

In case Kruyper's would rather not have its product associated with motor oil, this design also incorporates the sloped bottleneck with a design that has some references to the original Kruyper's bottle.