Apple Designs Make Work More Enjoyable

by Chris Howard Feb 06, 2008

Long before I started studying design, I knew Apple knew good design. Or is that Jobs? Most of Apple’s best designs have come under his two reigns.

And yet Steve is not a designer. If anything, he is a marketer. But a marketer with a very rare quality to truly and intrinsically appreciate the importance of design in marketing.

Yesterday I enrolled for my second year of graphic design. The media arts department had promised that new Macs would be coming, but I remained skeptical. However, and thankfully, my skepticism was proven wrong. But I was also wrong about my expectations of the latest iMac design. I did fall into the same trap with the previous white plastic Macs, thinking they were average. But when I was around one I could hardly keep my hands off of it.

And so again, I found Apple still has the ability to inspire raw lust with its designs. It’s remarkable that something so featureless could be so emotive. The G4 iMacs had a distinctive design, inspired by a sunflower, and these were always a favorite of mine. But they had the advantage of a rather uncomputer-like design.

This is unlike current iMacs, which have virtually nothing to work with; consequently, the detail becomes paramount. The materials, the form, the lines, the shapes, the textures, the colors. Of course, these were also important to the G4 iMac, but with it, the designers had more latitude. Apple’s designers, though, with the latest iMac, have still succeeded in causing an intense positive emotional response despite the considerable limitations on form.

So, on entering the classroom, I discovered a dozen stunning 24” anodized aluminum iMacs. No amount of pictures can ever do justice to Apple’s industrial design of its products, and these were no exception. You can make all the judgments you like about Apple’s designs, but seeing them for real is a totally different experience.

The effect on me was primal and almost embarrassing. I had an urge to jump on the desk and do things I couldn’t write about. Well, maybe not that bad, but certainly I wanted to caress the cool metallic lines, the sleek and slim keyboard, and the glassed, glossy LCD.

I try to avoid being a fanboi when I write here, but anything I could write about these computers would sound fanboi-ish.

A lot of Mac users claim the visual presence of a Mac has a positive effect on their enjoyment of working at the computer, and thus improves productivity.

Some people suggest that’s a whole lot of kool-aid. I’ve tried to explain it to these people before, but failed because I couldn’t really put my finger on it. But I’m going to try again because I think I’ve worked it out.

We like to decorate our working space to make it a more pleasant and inspiring place to work. We might have a photo of our kids, a potted plant, flowers, a window nearby, or posters of beaches, forests, or sunsets. All these sorts of things contribute to a positive working experience. I think you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who disagrees with that idea. And so that is how and why I believe Macs make a difference.

Seeing these new iMacs reminded me that Macs, by their design, and unlike most PCS, contribute to that visually aesthetic environment and so make it that little bit easier to work.

Comments

  • I finally saw and held a MacBook Air yesterday at the local BestBuy and I don’t care what its shortcomings are.  This thing seduces you like no other lump of aluminum does.

    tundraboy had this to say on Feb 06, 2008 Posts: 132
  • If anything, he is a marketer. But a marketer with a very rare quality to truly and intrinsically appreciate the importance of design in marketing.

    His weaknesses are his greatest assets - being a nitpick and lo, a perfectionist.

    With those Steve is always visualizing the “next great thing” when it comes to how we interact with his gadgets. Showcase #1: Yes, the mouse, #2: Mac GUI, and his latest #: mouseless Multitouch GUI in the iPhone and now to the Macs.

    I try to avoid being a fanboi when I write here…

    C’mon, mate. Admit it. The first time you laid your itchy fingers on a Mac, deep inside, your closet-fanboism broke lose and, hence, the reason you are now a genuine Mac journalist.

    You don’t have to be in the DMZ to be a Mac faithful no more. Have you heard the Mac platform is coming back with a vengeance? The signs are all there for us faithful “fanbois” to be proud of.

    Robomac had this to say on Feb 06, 2008 Posts: 846
  • When I work on a Mac, work feels less like work.

    Khürt Williams had this to say on Feb 06, 2008 Posts: 45
  • I believe that there was a study that showed that workers are more productive if their tools are more attractive.

    What’s interesting to me is that my own work habits validate that. My employer issued me a Dell laptop for me to use at my desk, just in case I have to take it to a client site, and one of the clients is issuing me a second laptop. I bring my MacBook Pro to work every day, so I’ll have no less than three computers at my desk. Sometimes I find myself doing my work on the MacBook Pro through a network connection so that the data files never leave the company machines.

    When I bought an iMac in 2005, I never imagined I’d get sucked in like this—but I love it.

    Hugmup had this to say on Feb 07, 2008 Posts: 40
  • I think it’s safe to say that Apple designs some great looking hardware.  Whether or not that improves productivity, I can’t say.  But the hardware is nice, no question about it.

    Beeblebrox had this to say on Feb 08, 2008 Posts: 2220
  • I think it’s safe to say that Apple designs some great looking hardware.  Whether or not that improves productivity, I can’t say.

    Like overrated peddler of cynical pop culture shite JJ Abrams said, his powerbook asks him every day what he can write that’s worthy of

    Perhaps if we swapped it for an Eee PC he might be tempted to produce some more genuine ouvres.

    Benji had this to say on Feb 12, 2008 Posts: 927
  • worthy of it. Sorry ‘bout that.

    Benji had this to say on Feb 12, 2008 Posts: 927
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