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5 Tips to Create Beautiful and Functional Designs

Written by : Nathan Greenhut on Digilah (Tech Thought Leadership)

“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” – Steve Jobs

Design is a crucial part of any product or service. By following these tips, you can create designs that are both beautiful and functional. Design is an important part of any product or service. It can make or break a company. That’s why it’s important to get it right.

There are three main aspects to consider when designing anything: form, fit and function. 

Form is the overall look and feel of the design. Fit is how well the design works within its intended purpose. Function is how well the design actually works.

Design is a crucial part of any product or service, but it can be difficult to get it right. By following these tips, you can create designs that are both beautiful and functional.


My top tips 5 for making beautiful and functional designs:

  1. Start with function
  2. Keep it simple
  3. Form and function must work together.
  4. Details matter
  5. Test, test, test

Start with function

Start by thinking about the function of the design. What does it need to do? How will it be used? Answering these questions will help you determine the form and fit of the design.

The form of the design should be based on its function. For example, a chair needs to be comfortable and support the sitter’s back, so its form should be functional and ergonomic. Similarly, a vase needs to be able to hold water without leaking, so it needs a sturdy, waterproof base.

The fit of the design is also important. A chair that is too small will be uncomfortable to sit in, and a vase that is too big will be difficult to carry. Make sure the form and fit of your design are appropriate for its intended purpose.

Once you have considered the form and fit of your design, you can start to think about its aesthetics. What colour will it be? What materials will it be made from? What texture will it have? Answering these questions will help you create a design that is both visually appealing and functional.

Keep it simple

The best designs are often the simplest ones. This is especially true when it comes to function. A complex design may look great, but if it’s not easy to use, it won’t be successful. Users should be able to intuitively understand how to use your product, without having to think too much about it.

This is why the best designs are often the simplest ones. A complex design may look great, but if it’s not easy to use, it won’t be successful. Users should be able to intuitively understand how to use your product, without having to think too much about it.

This doesn’t mean that all great designs are simple. Sometimes, a more complex design can be successful if it’s done well. But in general, the simpler the better.

When you’re designing something, always ask yourself if it’s the simplest solution possible. If it’s not, try to find a way to simplify it. This will help ensure that your design is successful.

Complexity for the sake of complexity is never a good idea. Keep it simple, and your designs will be more successful.

Form and function must work together

Make sure the form and function work together. Aesthetics are important, but they should never come at the expense of function. A beautiful design that doesn’t work is not a successful design. Likewise, a design that works but is ugly is also not successful. The two must work together in order for a design to be effective.

Form and function are equally important in design. 

In order for a design to be successful, it must strike a balance between form and function.

Details matter

Pay attention to detail. It’s the small details that can make or break a design. Don’t overlook them. Be consistent. Consistency is key in design.

Make sure your designs are consistent with your brand and with each other.

Be creative. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Be creative in your designs and in your approach to design. Be original. Originality is what sets you apart from the rest. Be original in your designs and in your approach to design.

Creativity and attention to detail are both important in design. 

It’s the small details that can make or break a design, so it’s important to pay attention to them. Be consistent in your designs, making sure they are consistent with your brand and with each other.

Be creative and think outside the box, but always be original. Stand out from the rest with your unique designs and approach to design.

Test, test, test

Always test your design before you release it to the public. Get feedback from users and make sure it’s user-friendly.

Creating a great user experience starts with a well-designed interface. If your interface is confusing or difficult to use, people will quickly get frustrated and give up. 

Always test your design before you release it to the public. Get feedback from users and make sure it’s user-friendly. Keep in mind that simplicity is often best when it comes to design. Too many bells and whistles can overwhelm users and make your interface hard to navigate.

Summary

A great design is just the beginning, though. Once people start using your product, you need to make sure they keep coming back. That’s where creating a great design comes in.

Every interaction someone has with your product should be positive and helpful. If you can make people’s lives easier, they’ll keep coming back for more.

Creating a great design is an ongoing process. You can never rest on your laurels – there’s always room for improvement. Keep listening to your users and making changes based on their feedback. With a little effort, you can make sure your product is always delightful to use.

Most searched question

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Helping animals with Technology

Written by : Heidi Ström on Digilah (Tech Thought Leadership)

The creative mind and focus on your purpose in life.

I think I was only 3 years old when I sat in my grandmother’s room. Sitting by the table looking out from the window, seeing all the beautiful snow, and the stars caught my interest. I was only 3 years old when I sat and wondered what the meaning of life was.

My childhood was not easy, I had an abusive father who drank a lot of alcohol and chased us with his guns! So, I kind of grew up to be extremely intuitive and ready to run. I had to “read” my father’s energy and temper. This kind of life made me a small problem solver. I did build a small treehouse in the woods.

I built it between 3 trees like a triangle. It was my safe place. I even arranged a small table and chairs there. I did not build windows, not for security reasons only small peak holes so I could see if there was a threat coming. I also did build it 1,5meters from the ground so no animals could “visit”.

I felt it was also my problem-solving “office”. I was proud of it! Luckily my father stopped drinking alcohol and did almost stop all abuse. 

I am 43 years now and still a problem solver. 

Now from my life to TECH, tech has probably saved my life! I have had the chance to study with mentors from my home, studying everything from physics, laser physics, AI, IoT, Magnetochemistry, and the automotive industry, not to forget the energy business. It has given me happiness and total freedom of choice.

But that is not all, I have studied wolves and their anatomy and also the human being, neurological problems, and hormones. I felt I wanted to learn everything about everything so yes, I did even study all kinds of religion and philosophy of course and history.

No matter what you study, you will have some use of the knowledge when the stars align with you. The saying, throw me to a pack of wolves and watch me return leading the pack! That is very true in my life. I was thrown to the wolves many times.

An example when I came up with the first navigation app for visually impaired people, I did lose the idea even if I was dealing with an organization helping the visually impaired. You see, you can trust the org but perhaps not all the people working there.

In this case, there was a man who stole my idea. The only thing comforting me was the idea that a lot of people did get help from this app all around the world.

Hard to say but boy have I lost a lot of ideas cos I did not afford to make them myself. I had a very hard time getting an investor. I came up with an app when the media had a lot of headlines on rape cases in India. I wanted to help the women there.

And the app was called the family secure app. I got involved with developers in India, they called me Didi(sister). And yes, they became like a family to me and we still have contact after many years. Well, this Idea still exists but has not been made cos I have not got any investors. But maybe someday? Que sera whatever will be will be as they sing!

I am happy for VR during the pandemic. It has helped so many people work remotely. And much more. So now My ideas include VR, AR, MR, and XR. How to implement them in daily life and business.

I am now carefully trying out crowdfunding platforms. The fact is that only 2 % of all female inventors get funding, that figure is scary really. Only 2 %? Why?

When it comes to leadership I see it as a game of chess. The idea concept or innovation is the king, you are the queen and for example, the soldiers can be a patent or also marketing.

You have to consider every step you take, or you will take one step forward and two steps back!

Do not feel small asking for advice from professionals. Do not be too proud. Build a team! If you haven´t got money for salaries well then offer something else like shares in the company.

No matter what, try to build the team, and do not do everything alone like I have been used to doing. You might get some tasks done but not as effective as the energy of a real team.

You do not have to understand everything about Tech, but always try to learn a little bit every day. Maybe reading a book, only one page a day? No matter how slow you learn, as long as there is some kind of progress you will win every time!

So, both women and men, time to come together for a more peaceful world. There is so incredibly much we can do with AI, for example, medicines, operations, automotive, and energy. The list goes on forever as long as we give ourselves credit for thinking outside the box!

And at last, I will share a video of my prototype of a food bowl for toothless pets who either have lost their teeth or have an underbite or have a short nose and are hard to breathe when picking up the food. It might have a futuristic design, but it is working!

And remember, unlearn, relearn, and unlearn again, question everything, and focus on your main purpose in life. I recommend reading Viktor F Frankl’s books on this matter!

Thank you for reading my story! If you feel you want to connect, I can be found on LinkedIn.

Here is a video of my prototype : 

Kindest Regards

Heidi Ström, Vaasa, Finland.

Most searched question 

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What are three common technologies used in animal systems?

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Most searched queries

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Smart Tech

Manual washing machines are back and stronger than ever

Written by Navjot SawhneySafaa Aouil Ghamzi on Digilah (Tech Thought Leadership)

Ever since humans started wearing clothes, women have been delegated to wash them. This unpaid labour trap has disproportionately affected women from the beginning of time. During the industrial revolution, a ground breaking invention changed the way humans washed their clothes forever. It was the electric washing machine. Whilst millions of people benefited from the time saved, a gap of inequality was forming in the Global South, where many people still handwash their clothes to this day. Lack of access to electricity, water, and cultural norms mean that 70% of the world’s population does not have access to an electric washing machine and is often not a sustainable option. 

Furthermore, 4.2 billion people do not have adequate sanitation and hygiene access globally. Unsafe and inadequate Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene practices are the main reason for disease in low-income countries. The top diseases spread by poor hygiene include body lice, diarrhoea, pinworm, and bacterial skin infections. 

When combining all these factors, handwashing can get incredibly burdensome. Women and children face many health risks associated with handwashing clothes, notably skin irritation and contracting infections and water-borne diseases from direct contact with contaminated water sources. They often lead to health implications further down the line.

The Washing Machine Project was created to combat the issues associated with handwashing clothes. Fast forward three years, we have carried out research in 16 countries and have piloted our novel manual washing machine in Iraq and Lebanon. 

Our ethnographic research with 3,000 families, including 900 in Uganda 800 in Jamaica, Nepal and the Philippines, prove that handwashing clothes are disproportionately placed on women and children as young as 6. For children, this burden is detrimental to their education and childhoods. It is a laborious task that inflicts chronic pain for those who spend up to 20 hours per week handwashing clothes. Handwashing clothes is time spent away from family, education, paid work and risking their health. Something had to be done.

We created Divya, an efficient manual washing machine that saves 50% of water and 70% of the time, resulting in 750 hours saved annually per household. 

It’s a front-loaded washing machine with a 5kg drum capacity that uses no electricity. Divya spins at 500 revolutions per minute and spin-dries clothes with 75% of the water coming out in the dry cycle. The device is made predominantly from off-the-shelf components that can easily be replaced or fixed in poor communities. With Divya, women can now spend their free time pursuing paid work and benefit from an education instead of spending hours handwashing clothes. 

For people who are burdened by handwashing clothes, a Divya washing machine is simply a miracle. Here are some testimonials below:

“I have three girls who stay two or three hours a day washing by hand. We suffer from pain in our hands, back and legs. It’s a fantastic invention.” – Kawsek, a refugee in Lebanon.

“After this washing machine came to us, things got easier for us. We don’t get exhausted anymore. We are very grateful. Thank you.” – Lamiya, a refugee in Iraq.

We have now received orders and interest from 25 countries for our Divya washing machines. Our vision is to create a world-leading organisation that brings together Innovation, Research and Development to solve the world’s most pressing humanitarian and development challenges. Whether it’s washing machines, air conditioning or refrigeration, we want to do it all. 

Donate here to create more Smart Technologies to change lives : https://www.gofundme.com/f/thewashingmachineproject