Analyzing Industrial Design

Although there are many mass-produced items in my dorm that can present an interesting analysis, I chose to evaluate a product that I use frequently in my everyday college life: my screwdriver set.

Having been part of a college goody basket from a neighbor, this screwdriver set has saved me many times when I have desperately needed to build or repair something (most notably bike repairs). Not only is it straightforward so that it can be used countlessly, it also serves as an interesting piece of design. 

The screwdriver set includes six different heads as well as a giant handle that can serve as a grip for each of the heads (each head can be inserted into the handle). The beauty of this screwdriver set is that it’s simple; it does not demand the attention of its consumers, but it has enough industrial design that it holds aesthetics that are visually pleasing.

As a set (with the heads and the handle together), there is a close proximity between the pieces as they sit in the case side-by-side. This creates a sense of overall unity as a product; it’s as if the 6 individual heads and the handle grip are one rather than seven separate pieces. This close proximity also creates a sense of balance and composition. The fact that the seven pieces are close together creates a sense of organization which in turn contributes to the product’s overall presentation.

As for each separate piece, its size is very small in proportion, smaller than an apple or even a cell phone. For each head piece, the shape is consistent; each piece is long and slender. However, each head also has its own unique tip at the top (a flat head tip compared to a corkscrew head tip). Overall each piece deals with haptic perception, meaning it is associated with tactile touch rather than visual communication. This is due to the fact that the set is used to build and repair things.

Colors and texture also contribute to the screwdriver set. Each pair of heads has its own color and with there being 3 pairs of heads, colors included are yellow, red and green. All the colors are bright, thereby giving off an upbeat and lively appearance. The handle is black, which makes it seem neutral when included with the set. As for texture, all of the set’s pieces are smooth and well-built, allowing consumers to feel as if the set is simple and reliable.

Although this set of screwdrivers appears to be plain and simple, it shows off design both as individual pieces and as a complete set. By utilizing simplicity, this example of a manufactured product shows that there is no room for “screw-ups” when exemplifying good design.