never perfect

things are hardly ever perfect. perfectly designed things are scarce, except perhaps in nature. I was watching the 'skeleton' from the winter olympics recently and noticed that the winner, despite having a very expensive helmet, had had to seal up the sides with gaffer tape. it's good to see people improving and personalising products as designers rarely have sufficient experience to design perfect things. you can never predict every user. products which assume completely new roles are equally fascinating and japan is full of both.

the car 'parking aerial' (for want of the correct term) is one such example. it is purely function - sitting on the edge of your bumper to tell you how close you are to your surroundings. it's a cheap alternative to a guidance system and makes life so much easier for many. it also describes how the product is actually used in comparison to the inane apsirational commercials you are submerged in these days (those happy families driving through a valley in new zealand or a scottish glen, never have the need for a parking aerial do they?). they might even tell us something more about you without you knowing. are you a bad driver for example? someone who doesn't take risks? do you live on an ancient street with no clearance? compact life once again breeds ingenuity - we have gained a lot from the need to make small.

incredibly there is a hummer garage near our house. how the hell people drive them here is beyond me. vanity often wins.