Andrew Tyson
Prof. Angie Waller
Information Design Studio
24 Oct 2007
Article Response Paper
All of the short essays assigned for this weeks reading describe the
not-so-ordinary attributes of everyday objects. Each in-depth
examination brought new meaning to the common perceptions we hold true
with soap, plastic, and desks.
The first essay explains the contrasts between chlorinated fluids
(Clorox) and soap-powders and detergents such as (Persil or Omo). The
author compares chlorinated fluids to a blind fire in that if used
improperly they could destroy what it’s been sent to save. Powders
and detergents, on the contrary, are more subtle by separating the
dirt from clothing without the potential of harm. Going into more
detail the author then explains how Omo cleans both deep and foamy.
This will appeal both to the practical working man and the luxury
seeking lady. The foamy description is particularly keen by masking
the very principal function of detergent whose main duty is to scrub
the dirt out. This is quite the opposite of the light and airy
essence of foam.
In the second essay the author dives deep into the wonderful world of
Plastics. He begins with a brief description of the strange world of
alchemy and industrial chemistry that has combined to produce
plastics. The vision of the heaps of raw crystals being fed into one
end of a great machine on a conveyer belt where at the other end exits
some finished gizmo under the robotic eyes of the machine attendant.
Its very name ‘plastic’ connotes constant flux and movement. No other
material has such versatility and low cost. A pile of plastic pellets
could be made into a fly swatter, vase, or running shoes. The
infinite possibilities boggles the mind. Unfortunately, plastics do
suffer drawbacks. The author explains that because of the low cost of
production and its ubiquity plastics are relegated to the lowest
common denominator of materials. It neither has the hardness of metal
nor the luxury of fine woods. Plastic are the great fraud imitating
all of the great players from gold, to walnut, to fur, to rubies.
Precious or not scientist and designers will think of more ways to use
plastics as the work horse of new ideas for we are living in the age
of plastics.
The final essay describes another object everyone has a very intimate
relationship with. I am utilizing one at this very instant i type
this response paper. Without my trusty desk I would have long given
up writing this paper. After sitting from one awkward position to
another with my heated up laptop burning my thighs i would have packed
up and waited until I was able to find a desk to complete my work.
The author points out a number of examples of desks and how these
desks effect the users that work at them.
All of this talk about ordinary things got me thinking about things I
use each day. Things so common at first glance but very complex when
you look closer. One such object I use each day but take for granted
is my WW1 era Birmingham style bicycle I use to get around NYC. In
London I rode a very smart Bianchi track bike. Lightweight, stylish,
thin, and fast much like the bikes used by the bike couriers you see
zipping around the city each day. I decided to sell my Bianchi in
London as to avoid the headache of packing it and getting it on and
off the plane with the rest of my luggage. I sold the bike for more
than what I paid for it so I was happy for that but upon returning to
NYC I was in desperate need of some sort of conveyance. As a
stop-loss I went out and bought an old junker of a bike made around
1915. It was the opposite of what I was used to. Heavy, slow,
ungainly, and cumbersome I cursed myself for buying it. I felt I
should have waited and saved my money until I could buy another sporty
track bike. Making matters worse I dropped the bike off at the bike
shop to have a wire basket installed on the front. When I picked the
bike up I was shocked to see a super-oversized basket that was far
more than I needed. What a mistake! As punishment I told myself that
I would ride the bike as penance until I could afford something
better. Day after day I rode the bike to school and work. Before
long I began to find the advantages of the bike. It was slower but in
a good way. Unlike the track bike I could ride in a comfortable
position with my back straight instead of being hunched over the front
bars of my other bike. The grossly oversized front basket turned out
to be the perfect size for ferrying my school supplies to and from
class. On my old bike I always had to sling my bag on my back which
was very uncomfortable. Another positive to having a junker is I can
lock it outside without anyone molesting it. If you own a nice bike
you must bring it indoors every night. My junker is totally ignored
by thieves. It is the chameleon of bikes blending perfectly into the
background. Before long I was so contented with my new junker bike I
now have no urge to get a new bike. It just goes to show that when
you look a little closer you can always find a little extraordinary in
the ordinary.
