Details (a design critique)
I saw this young lad on his way to work this morning and it stirred something in my soul. Perhaps it was his blistering pace to work, perhaps it was the beef casserole I had on the back seat, or perhaps it was this young man’s immense design savvy.
A lot of you say to me ‘Spit, you have immense design savvy and a critical eye for proportion- will you come to Penney’s and help me pick out a suit?’ and usually I will go to Penny’s with you, especially in the Spring, during the semi-annual white sale. But instead of relying on my immense design savvy to help occasionally, I want you to have design savvy with you at all times. As a famous eastern teacher used to say; “I dont want to just hand you motor oil, I want to teach you to change the oil yourself”. He was in Brooklyn, across from the Dominos sugar plant.
Friends consider this a teaching moment.
Now, take a look at this young man and note his attention to detail; fine ribs around his shoulders match the fine ribs along the engine; trusses and reinforcing on the leather leisure outfit matches the trusses and reinforcing on the side of the engine case; black leisure outfit matches black tires, black seat, black boots and black Bub exhaust.
Now some will tell you that all of this detail is what makes the design so complete, so fulfilling and so right. Those who try to tell you that details should subordinate to the whole and details should support a larger ‘gestalt’ of design interpretation are losers who could probably never make a proper souffleé, and probably should be taken out back and shot.
So cheers to this young man and his design savvy! I’m guessing his outstanding design insights and his rapid tempo in getting to work him a well deserved promotion and perhaps even a piece of creme de´Beef casserole. Lets just hope that silly drive-shaft didn’t blow out its u-joint before he got to work!
faster!
