Perceived Value and Context. (Part Three)

(Continued from Part Two/Part One)

The use of scale can also distract the intended purpose of a design.

The same design at an unrealistic scale reevaluates the concept. The highly utilitarian object has become essentially unusable in its original sense. This cup makes a better laundry bin (which is not to say that it isn’t amazing).

And just as white is the new brown is the new black, the never-ending journey of changing tastes brings the cheap object to a fine object to a fine-cheap object. MoMA sells crushed white ceramic party cups as shown below.

The broken object product design concept is epitomized by Jason Miller’s work. He is best known for his “Beautifully Broken” series of drinking glasses, Duct Tape Chair, and Scotch Magic broken mirror (under the “Projects” link on his site). The chair and mirror are on exhibit at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum.