66
IN THIS UNIT
GRAMMAR
• modals (necessity and
obligation)
• modals (present deduction)
VOCABULARY
• word building
• design adjectives
• materials, shapes and
textures
• abstract nouns
SCENARIO
• describing qualities
• evaluating designs
STUDY SKILLS
• proofreading
WRITING SKILLS
• a product report
Design
7.1
DESIGN IS EVERYWHERE
7
Design occupies a unique space between art and science.
Terence Conran, 1931–, British designer
READING
1
Think about objects in your home.
Which do you think are particularly well
designed? Why?
2
a
Look at these extracts from
an introduction to a design book. In
which extract does the writer mention
these things?
a
incorrect ideas about design
b
the essential element in good design
c
what design is
d
the restrictions on designers
e
what designers do
2
b
Read the extracts again and correct
the statements below.
1
Designers are the same as scientists
and engineers.
2
Most people rarely make mistakes
when talking about design.
3
Design is all about appearance.
4
The secret of good design is to be
new and different.
5
Designers, like artists, have a lot
of freedom.
2
c
Reacting to the text
Which idea in
the text is the most interesting? Why?
Inventors create new products and engineers make them work.
Manufacturers make products and salespeople get the public to buy them.
However, only designers can bring all these processes together. Designers
can take an idea and turn it into something that people want to buy
because it can add value to their lives.
A good designer begins by looking at the needs of the user and aims to find
the best solution to those needs. The design doesn’t have to be completely
new or exciting to be successful, but it must fulfil a need. However, the
process of designing can often lead to new innovations as well.
There are many misunderstandings about design. Some people use the word
‘design’ when they really mean ‘style’. A well-designed product often looks
very attractive and so many people think that design is only about the way
things appear. However, design is also about the way things work and the
experience people have when they are using a product. The final appearance
of a product is usually decided near the end of a development process.
Artists can follow their creative instincts but designers have to work in a
commercial environment, so they must consider many issues. Designers
ask themselves whether people really need a particular product, or could
make it different from similar products in the market. They need to know
how much it will cost to manufacture and whether or not it is safe to use.
1
What is design?
There are many different opinions about design but John Maeda has a simple
definition of the word. He believes that good design can be described as a
solution to a problem.
2
3
4
5
