Check out the recent “Opinionator” blog by Allison Arieff on the New York Times site that looks at the impact plastics are having on design.  It’s a very interesting piece, focused on consumer goods primarily — the work of Phillipe Starck, an exhibit at the Cooper Hewitt museum — but it also questions the ethos of design for design’s sake (creating a need and filling it) vs. starting with the need and finding the optimal design solution — which is what we do every day.  As I pointed out in my response, “For industrial designers working with plastics, elegance comes in the form of fewer, more complex parts that save manufacturing steps and reduce material use.  Or the creation of a durable, glossy finish that will stand up to harsh chemical cleaners or the high temperatures of an autoclave during repeated sterilizations. “Click here to read the full story and all the responses.

- Ben