Page 7 - index
P. 7
RESEARCH, ANALYSIS & TRENDS
Today’s developers (and engineers) are faced with the And for a technological equivalent, look no further than
challenge of designing buildings for a future person liv- the computer mouse. In 1980, Apple asked IDEO to
ing in a futuristic world. Given lengthy project design, develop a mouse for their new computer, the Lisa. It is
approvals and funding processes, it could take years for as good today as it was back then. The Apple mouse
a project to move from concept to completion – and was required to be more reliable but less than 10% of
after this period of time, the original design is no longer the cost of the earlier version. Their improved and
‘new’. How do they know what to design when they cheaper mechanism proved mechanically and econom-
don’t know what is to come? ically sound and was changed only slightly for use on
the first Macintosh computer. This basic mechanism
The implementation of technology for technology’s sake design is now used in virtually all mechanical mice.
isn’t enough to sustain a product or infrastructure into
the future, without a sense of purpose or meaning inap- All of these examples were designed to address widely
propriate technology can ironically shorten a project’s different but very explicit meanings for their users –
lifespan rather than increase it. An intimate understand- causes which have proved timeless.
ing of a user’s technology needs today and how these
might evolve is key to future-proofing any product, pro- As we move deeper into the digital age, technology
cess of infrastructure. with real meaning and value for the user will rise to the
top of the pile of all things digital. Likewise, the places
QV.1, a 40-storey modernist skyscraper in Perth, West- and spaces we inhabit must be aligned not only with
ern Australia was completed in 1991. The fourth-tallest our technology needs now, but also going forward.
building in Perth, architect Harry Seidler won numerous
awards for its innovative design and energy efficiency. Fujifilm’s camera was able to transcend a couple of
Despite the advent of Green Star and new technolo- decades of relatability because it speaks to the core
gies, 15 years later, QV.1 and its sister designs in Mel- needs of the user – it answers the call of humanity for
bourne, Brisbane and Sydney are still highly desired meaningful technology. As we move into a technology-
and very functional premium grade office spaces. Harry saturated market in future, designing our projects to
understood how to ensure a project’s relevance long fulfil a range of meaning or purpose for the people that
after inception. will live, work and play in them will see us start to future
-proof our designs.
Likewise, the Aeron Chair has outlasted fad. A radical
design at the time, its performance is as good today as As a big fan of Aurecon’s Just Imagine and glimpses
it was in 1994 and it is featured in the Museum of Mod- into the future, Asian eMarketing thanks this time Matt
ern Art‘s permanent collection. According to Bloomberg, Capon for the contribution.◊
the Aeron Chair “made a fetish of lumbar support…
because that’s what people think is required for it to be
a scientifically ‘good’ chair”. Their understanding of con-
sumer expectations paid off – with the chair dubbed
‘America’s best-selling’.
MediaBUZZ Pte Ltd - Independant ePublisher for Asia
Today’s developers (and engineers) are faced with the And for a technological equivalent, look no further than
challenge of designing buildings for a future person liv- the computer mouse. In 1980, Apple asked IDEO to
ing in a futuristic world. Given lengthy project design, develop a mouse for their new computer, the Lisa. It is
approvals and funding processes, it could take years for as good today as it was back then. The Apple mouse
a project to move from concept to completion – and was required to be more reliable but less than 10% of
after this period of time, the original design is no longer the cost of the earlier version. Their improved and
‘new’. How do they know what to design when they cheaper mechanism proved mechanically and econom-
don’t know what is to come? ically sound and was changed only slightly for use on
the first Macintosh computer. This basic mechanism
The implementation of technology for technology’s sake design is now used in virtually all mechanical mice.
isn’t enough to sustain a product or infrastructure into
the future, without a sense of purpose or meaning inap- All of these examples were designed to address widely
propriate technology can ironically shorten a project’s different but very explicit meanings for their users –
lifespan rather than increase it. An intimate understand- causes which have proved timeless.
ing of a user’s technology needs today and how these
might evolve is key to future-proofing any product, pro- As we move deeper into the digital age, technology
cess of infrastructure. with real meaning and value for the user will rise to the
top of the pile of all things digital. Likewise, the places
QV.1, a 40-storey modernist skyscraper in Perth, West- and spaces we inhabit must be aligned not only with
ern Australia was completed in 1991. The fourth-tallest our technology needs now, but also going forward.
building in Perth, architect Harry Seidler won numerous
awards for its innovative design and energy efficiency. Fujifilm’s camera was able to transcend a couple of
Despite the advent of Green Star and new technolo- decades of relatability because it speaks to the core
gies, 15 years later, QV.1 and its sister designs in Mel- needs of the user – it answers the call of humanity for
bourne, Brisbane and Sydney are still highly desired meaningful technology. As we move into a technology-
and very functional premium grade office spaces. Harry saturated market in future, designing our projects to
understood how to ensure a project’s relevance long fulfil a range of meaning or purpose for the people that
after inception. will live, work and play in them will see us start to future
-proof our designs.
Likewise, the Aeron Chair has outlasted fad. A radical
design at the time, its performance is as good today as As a big fan of Aurecon’s Just Imagine and glimpses
it was in 1994 and it is featured in the Museum of Mod- into the future, Asian eMarketing thanks this time Matt
ern Art‘s permanent collection. According to Bloomberg, Capon for the contribution.◊
the Aeron Chair “made a fetish of lumbar support…
because that’s what people think is required for it to be
a scientifically ‘good’ chair”. Their understanding of con-
sumer expectations paid off – with the chair dubbed
‘America’s best-selling’.
MediaBUZZ Pte Ltd - Independant ePublisher for Asia
