4 ms·

I remember seeing a Japanese designer, possibly current or ex-Sony, talking about a Walkman. They were saying (via subtitles) something along the lines that th

I remember seeing a Japanese designer, possibly current or ex-Sony, talking about a Walkman. They were saying (via subtitles) something along the lines that that the device needed to feel like something you wanted to hold, regardless of what it was meant to do. There was something about understanding the physicality of the object itself which stuck with me. We only see glimpses of this now, since there is only a single object that people hold, and it's just a cuboid. I would argue that early to mid Ive-era Apple continued this in two-dimensions. But something has been lost in the last decade or so. Is it a move to video and events instead of things, words and thoughts? I don't know.

bitwize 3y ago
One of the things I really liked about the Nintendo Switch was just how cool it felt to grip the device and how natural playing it felt. That aspect of the Switch's industrial design is something Nintendo really nailed... even if they cheaped out on the sticks...
- wildzzz 3y ago
  I never enjoyed holding a switch. I got the controller grip adapter thing specifically because of how cramped everything feels. I can grip it better but the button layout still sucks. Even the pro controller feels too small and cramped. I enjoy the 360 and PS4/5 controllers a lot because they just fit my hand rather than some rectangle that feels like I'm trying to hold a phablet. I'm sure the switch is fine for kids which makes sense since Nintendo is geared towards the younger demographic.
iancmceachern 3y ago
And what Ive did was only a continuation of the work Dieter Rams was doing his whole career.
- iancmceachern 3y ago
  Down voted for saying Ive and Dieter were in the same school? This is a known, accepted fact https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/style/article/dieter-rams-film-exhibition-style-intl/index.html https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/style/article/d...
- helf 3y ago
  [dead]
msephton 3y ago
I know what you mean. It's a desire to simplify in the name of progress, not stopping to think if simpler is better. I don't think it is in every case. There's a great book of Sony's 90s design that you should check out. Highlights: https://twitter.com/gingerbeardman/status/1636867958583570434 https://twitter.com/gingerbeardman/status/163686795858357043...
- layer8 3y ago
  More often than not, it’s a desire to cut costs.
reaperducer 3y ago
the device needed to feel like something you wanted to hold, regardless of what it was meant to do. It's the reason I miss the original iPhone. It just felt good in your hand. Exactly the right size, shape, and especially weight. If I could get its battery replaced (I'm not capable), I would use it as an iPod every day (since 2G service is gone).
- AJ007 3y ago
  It felt great, and it was actually difficult to drop because of the phone surface area touching your palm! The phones keep getting heavier, thicker, and sharper edges. While the iPhone/3G/S was the most comfortable of all of them they continue to get worse with each new generation. Steve Jobs would not be impressed.
WanderPanda 3y ago
I think it will come back. There are things like the TP-7 already: https://teenage.engineering/products/tp-7 https://teenage.engineering/products/tp-7 I really want to hold this in my hand but it costs a leg unfortunately
- giantrobot 3y ago
  It looks cool...but where the fuck do I put my fingers? That's the difference between the old Walkmans and something like this. The Walkman was designed to fit in my hand and also realized my hand has some fingers that need to go somewhere. It can't just have a bunch of easily triggered buttons under wherever my finger might rest. I find this to be a problem with a lot of modern ID. The fetishization of touch sensitive controls or just overly sensitive controls makes it just hard to hold a lot of gadgets. It also makes me paranoid about putting them in my pocket. Most Walkman designs had nice physical push buttons that you were in no danger of manipulating accidentally when they were clipped to your pocket or belt.
  - MichaelZuo 3y ago
    Such products are still sold for professional markets, e.g. Panasonic has their Toughbooks. Harris with their radios, etc...
  - WanderPanda 3y ago
    I agree, since I moved from iPhone 11 to 14 and the display margins became even smaller I frequently accidentally move the youtube slider (when in landscape) by just holding it. Very annoying when watching long-form content
    - giantrobot 3y ago
      I find the effectively bezel-less iPads difficult to hold because there's nowhere for my fingers to rest.

bitwize 3y ago

One of the things I really liked about the Nintendo Switch was just how cool it felt to grip the device and how natural playing it felt. That aspect of the Switch's industrial design is something Nintendo really nailed... even if they cheaped out on the sticks...

wildzzz 3y ago
I never enjoyed holding a switch. I got the controller grip adapter thing specifically because of how cramped everything feels. I can grip it better but the button layout still sucks. Even the pro controller feels too small and cramped. I enjoy the 360 and PS4/5 controllers a lot because they just fit my hand rather than some rectangle that feels like I'm trying to hold a phablet. I'm sure the switch is fine for kids which makes sense since Nintendo is geared towards the younger demographic.

iancmceachern 3y ago

And what Ive did was only a continuation of the work Dieter Rams was doing his whole career.

iancmceachern 3y ago
Down voted for saying Ive and Dieter were in the same school? This is a known, accepted fact https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/style/article/dieter-rams-film-exhibition-style-intl/index.html https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/style/article/d...
helf 3y ago
[dead]

msephton 3y ago

I know what you mean. It's a desire to simplify in the name of progress, not stopping to think if simpler is better. I don't think it is in every case. There's a great book of Sony's 90s design that you should check out. Highlights: https://twitter.com/gingerbeardman/status/1636867958583570434 https://twitter.com/gingerbeardman/status/163686795858357043...

layer8 3y ago
More often than not, it’s a desire to cut costs.

reaperducer 3y ago

the device needed to feel like something you wanted to hold, regardless of what it was meant to do. It's the reason I miss the original iPhone. It just felt good in your hand. Exactly the right size, shape, and especially weight. If I could get its battery replaced (I'm not capable), I would use it as an iPod every day (since 2G service is gone).

AJ007 3y ago
It felt great, and it was actually difficult to drop because of the phone surface area touching your palm! The phones keep getting heavier, thicker, and sharper edges. While the iPhone/3G/S was the most comfortable of all of them they continue to get worse with each new generation. Steve Jobs would not be impressed.

WanderPanda 3y ago

I think it will come back. There are things like the TP-7 already: https://teenage.engineering/products/tp-7 https://teenage.engineering/products/tp-7 I really want to hold this in my hand but it costs a leg unfortunately

giantrobot 3y ago
It looks cool...but where the fuck do I put my fingers? That's the difference between the old Walkmans and something like this. The Walkman was designed to fit in my hand and also realized my hand has some fingers that need to go somewhere. It can't just have a bunch of easily triggered buttons under wherever my finger might rest. I find this to be a problem with a lot of modern ID. The fetishization of touch sensitive controls or just overly sensitive controls makes it just hard to hold a lot of gadgets. It also makes me paranoid about putting them in my pocket. Most Walkman designs had nice physical push buttons that you were in no danger of manipulating accidentally when they were clipped to your pocket or belt.
- MichaelZuo 3y ago
  Such products are still sold for professional markets, e.g. Panasonic has their Toughbooks. Harris with their radios, etc...
- WanderPanda 3y ago
  I agree, since I moved from iPhone 11 to 14 and the display margins became even smaller I frequently accidentally move the youtube slider (when in landscape) by just holding it. Very annoying when watching long-form content
  - giantrobot 3y ago
    I find the effectively bezel-less iPads difficult to hold because there's nowhere for my fingers to rest.