Good, well-thought-out craftsmanship tends to click intuitively – you usually know straight away whether something has been well designed. You look at it, you use it, and you can tell if it feels natural or if there's something wrong, even if you can't quite put your finger on why. Although the world is full of mistakes and misfires, there are also many brilliant examples of products, furniture, graphics and packaging.
High-quality things generate huge online followers. For example: This online community, which counts millions of members, is wowing the internet by sharing really cool designs. We've compiled some of her most recent posts to show you what's possible when you think outside the box. Scroll down and don't forget to upvote the images that impressed you the most. We have our favorites. Which are yours?
Photo credit: benji9t3
Photo credit: drone cell
Photo credit: neiroman
Technologies and aesthetics change, consumer preferences and cultural attitudes change, but no matter how much time passes, some design philosophies continue to stand the test of time.
For example, the German industrial designer Dieter Rams, who has had a profound impact on the world of design, is still relevant today with his ideas and approaches. Some ideas are simply fundamental.
by the Polish artist Barbara Galińska.
Photo credit: Auxiliary username
Photo credit: Zedaraby
Photo credit: Lepke2011
Designer Rams developed his 10 principles for good design, sometimes referred to as the 10 Commandments of Design. Rams considered really good design to be innovative, making a product useful and understandable, aesthetic, unobtrusive, honest, durable, environmentally friendly and thought out to the last detail.
And finally, paradoxically, good design should contain as little design as possible.
Photo credit: dry_ocean
Photo credit: d1luc_d1lf
Photo credit: EmotionalGoodBoy
The last point – about how designers should design less – is important. Simplicity is often at the heart of ideas that balance function and form.
It requires a high level of self-editing and refinement, letting go of what is essentially clutter. There's no arguing about taste, of course, but over-designed products can either look like works of art that barely function, or they have so many functions that it's unclear what they even do. Less really is more. And from a creative perspective, it takes a lot of courage and discipline to throw away the fluff.
Photo credit: Hurambuk
Photo credit: Green____cat
Photo credit: Rd28T
The online community we present was founded in mid-2011. Over the last 13+ years it has only gotten stronger. The subreddit currently has a staggering 2.3 million members.
It's not only proof that people like to look at unusual and aesthetic things, but also that creativity and quality – when really done right – always find an audience.
Image credit: StockChart6231
Photo credit: tomyan112
Photo credit: rustyyryan
The moderators, who keep the group running smoothly, explain that it is a place to share “amazing design images,” as well as renderings and mockups.
Everyone is encouraged to post high-quality images of interesting designs including, but not limited to, architectural, graphic, industrial, furniture and product designs.
Photo credit: WooToot_19
Photo credit: ARNAVRANJAN
Photo credit: Amygdali_lama
However, this is not an arts-focused community. For example, while beautiful and carefully created works of art and sculpture are a pleasure to look at, they are a better fit for other communities. When starting an online group, it's important to carve out a niche and stay consistent within it.
Photo credit: NoahOkapi
Photo credit: urfavbozo7275
Photo credit: dudeofgoodtimes
You may have fun doing a little bit of everything, but your audience wants to know what to expect. So it only makes sense that a design-focused community would focus on…design!
As a result, groups like these remain popular and active years and decades after they were founded. That and a group of hard-working volunteers who help facilitate the whole thing.
Photo credit: Mosanger
Photo credit: BaronVonBroccoli
Photo credit: SamwellBarley
The subreddit's name, which we can't directly mention here, is an artifact of the time when the Internet was a very different place: naming conventions were more lax, users were more comfortable with sarcasm and irony, others enjoyed it, very edgy too and perhaps took themselves a little less seriously and everyone was less afraid of being censored on the Internet.
Things are much stricter online now, leaving less room for jokes and strangely titled groups. The silver lining? No matter what a group is called, the proof is clear: quality content is quality content.
Photo credit: KitsuneRisu
Photo credit: Blasports
Photo credit: lmnDK
We are big design fans, love pandas. So if you have a moment, we'd love to hear which of these images you liked the most. Which designs do you think were the most creative?
Were there things that really made you sad that you didn't think of first? What's the worst design you've seen recently? Let us know what you think in the comments!
Photo credit: EmotionalGoodBoy
Photo credit: tomyan112
Photo credit: Dio_Ludicolo
Photo credit: coolord4
Photo credit: jellylemonshake
Photo credit: Fair_Explanation_196
Photo credit: Polakhomy
Photo credit: Suprshun
Photo credit: Few_Simple9049
Photo credit: Ted_Bundtcake
Photo credit: Forestpunk
Photo credit: Rorschach995
Photo credit: XROOR
Photo credit: Glass-Fan111
Photo credit: 911_reddit
Photo credit: StephenMcGannon
Photo credit: VictoryGreen
Photo credit: eleanor61
Photo credit: Ebonystealth
Photo credit: mvus
Photo credit: StephenMcGannon
Photo credit: TanTan_101
Photo credit: StephenMcGannon
Photo credit: ClemFandango9
Photo credit: No-Discipline-2729
Photo credit: dlaynomore
Photo credit: StephenMcGannon
Photo credit: dry_ocean
Photo credit: dry_ocean
Photo credit: pokefreak2015
Photo credit: Next-Gur7439
Photo credit: StephenMcGannon
Photo credit: StephenMcGannon
Photo credit: Mister_Moony
Photo credit: ScootSchloingo
Photo credit: PM_WhatMadeYouHappy
Photo credit: StephenMcGannon
I'm a meteorologist and the baby boomers I work with are crazy about the cover for this climate report. The report documents that 2023 is the hottest year on record. Temperature is often shown in circular graphs, but does anyone under 30 know what a turntable is? What do you think: good design or not?
Photo credit: OneDishwasher
Photo credit: KolonKby
Photo credit: Ralrik
Photo credit: Trizocbs
Photo credit: StephenMcGannon
Photo credit: dry_ocean
Photo credit: StephenMcGannon
Picture today on the front page of the Dutch newspaper “de Volkskrant”. Translation: “After the attack”.
Photo credit: Cassis
Photo credit: YoggieD
Photo credit: TeslaCoilLuxray
Photo credit: dhaval_kasetiya
Photo credit: Glass-Fan111
Photo credit: StephenMcGannon
Photo credit: Imericxu
Photo credit: 2Dogs1Frog
Image credit: ssql_pm
Photo credit: Teerendog
Photo credit: Quelanight2324
Photo credit: jakubkonecki
Photo credit: Techwield
Photo credit: Th3-B0t
Photo credit: StephenMcGannon
Photo credit: kenny1wangler
Photo credit: kenny1wangler
Photo credit: steikul
Photo credit: Max_Mussi
Photo credit: Accurate_Bee_9996
Photo credit: XROOR
Photo credit: meb1111
Photo credit: StephenMcGannon
Photo credit: rustyyryan
Photo credit: heyjclay1
Photo credit: Th3-B0t
Photo credit: InevitableSea2107
Photo credit: NewEdo_RPG
Photo credit: 911_reddit
Photo credit: meowmixalots
Photo credit: Ad Nerd
Photo credit: aveclavague
Photo credit: IAmABoredCat1590
Photo credit: Divine Sea Manatee
Photo credit: Forestpunk