3 ms·

In fashion it is about being non-mainstream. Check eg https://fashionista.com/2017/06/ugly-fashion-mainstream-trend https://fashionista.com/2017/06/ugly-fashion

In fashion it is about being non-mainstream. Check eg https://fashionista.com/2017/06/ugly-fashion-mainstream-trend https://fashionista.com/2017/06/ugly-fashion-mainstream-tren... on ugly fashion. Within tech there is still not so much "dare". A few exceptions are: + Spider routers: https://www.theverge.com/ces/2017/1/5/14182306/asus-rapture-gt-ac5300-spider-router-bad-design-ces-2017 https://www.theverge.com/ces/2017/1/5/14182306/asus-rapture-... + These "smart" hairbrushes: https://www.theverge.com/2017/1/4/14169564/ces-2017-beauty-tech-smart-hairbrush-makeup https://www.theverge.com/2017/1/4/14169564/ces-2017-beauty-t... + Power outlets: http://www.libbywilkiedesigns.com/2017/09/new-must-electric-gadget.html http://www.libbywilkiedesigns.com/2017/09/new-must-electric-... + Countless wearable thingies: https://iwastesomuchtime.com/95685 https://iwastesomuchtime.com/95685 Maybe you have your own favorite hideous tech thing of last year. Would be fun to see. It says just as much about the time or even more than the top brands that just have to stick to their aesthetic style.

mrisoli 9y ago
This is because people need variety in fashion items, you can have non-mainstream clothing but still dress normally on other days, tech hardware meanwhile is bought because of functionality first, so (most)people don't have multiple smartphones to match different occasions and settings. Software, OTOH, is also very conservative, this is because familiar design patterns ease users' learning curves(and conversion optimization in the case of commercial websites). However, there are some movements about creating non-mainstream websites such http://brutalistwebsites.com/ http://brutalistwebsites.com/ which I find interesting.
- throwanem 9y ago
  What's brutalist about those? I'd understood that movement to revolve around the aesthetic of the raw material (béton brut, "raw concrete"), which translated to the web would seem to suggest basic HTML and images with minimal to no styling and Javascript. The sites linked on that page seem instead to prefer a "high style" approach that's similar to the mainstream aesthetic in every respect save the look of the result.
  - mrisoli 9y ago
    TBH I think these websites use the term brutalist too loosely. I am not an expert but AFAIK brutalist architecture was about a lesser concern with aesthetics and more with function. I also expected brutalist web design to be more about minimal styling and javascript. I just pointed this site because that's what came to mind as to the closest that web design has to "non-mainstream ugly fashion".
PhasmaFelis 9y ago
> + Spider routers: https://www.theverge.com/ces/2017/1/5/14182306/asus-rapture-.. https://www.theverge.com/ces/2017/1/5/14182306/asus-rapture-.... I wonder if the author thinks those antennas are purely decorative.
- azernik 9y ago
  Industrial design is all about the interplay of functional components with aesthetics. Think how the iPhone home button is a functional component, but there's visual design work that went into that specific shape and it's a part of the look. Similarly, there are a lot of ways to put antennae on a router, and this company chose one particular way that would have one particular (hideous) look.

mrisoli 9y ago

This is because people need variety in fashion items, you can have non-mainstream clothing but still dress normally on other days, tech hardware meanwhile is bought because of functionality first, so (most)people don't have multiple smartphones to match different occasions and settings. Software, OTOH, is also very conservative, this is because familiar design patterns ease users' learning curves(and conversion optimization in the case of commercial websites). However, there are some movements about creating non-mainstream websites such http://brutalistwebsites.com/ http://brutalistwebsites.com/ which I find interesting.

throwanem 9y ago
What's brutalist about those? I'd understood that movement to revolve around the aesthetic of the raw material (béton brut, "raw concrete"), which translated to the web would seem to suggest basic HTML and images with minimal to no styling and Javascript. The sites linked on that page seem instead to prefer a "high style" approach that's similar to the mainstream aesthetic in every respect save the look of the result.
- mrisoli 9y ago
  TBH I think these websites use the term brutalist too loosely. I am not an expert but AFAIK brutalist architecture was about a lesser concern with aesthetics and more with function. I also expected brutalist web design to be more about minimal styling and javascript. I just pointed this site because that's what came to mind as to the closest that web design has to "non-mainstream ugly fashion".

PhasmaFelis 9y ago

> + Spider routers: https://www.theverge.com/ces/2017/1/5/14182306/asus-rapture-.. https://www.theverge.com/ces/2017/1/5/14182306/asus-rapture-.... I wonder if the author thinks those antennas are purely decorative.

azernik 9y ago
Industrial design is all about the interplay of functional components with aesthetics. Think how the iPhone home button is a functional component, but there's visual design work that went into that specific shape and it's a part of the look. Similarly, there are a lot of ways to put antennae on a router, and this company chose one particular way that would have one particular (hideous) look.