Design in Our Lives

In our everyday lives we use so many things. But, some of them are less functional than others. I will be talking about four objects, and showing where I categorize them in "High Functionality" and "Low Functionality". Everyone's entitled to their own opinion and I'm sure there will be people that disagree with my sentiment, because of course everyone has their different perspectives. But, I'll hopefully make you think other wise once you read what I have to say.
Let's start off with something that I'm sure is very, very familiar to everybody. “Pac-Man” By Toru Iwatani. This game was revolutionary, you will find this arcade game Everywhere. This game is being enjoyed by everyone around the world till this day. Laundromats, arcades, stores, etc. you will find Pac-Man everywhere. If you couldn't tell by all of my praises that I definitely classify Pac-Man as "High Functionality"
The "Mine Kafon Wind-Powered Deminer" By, Massoud Hassani is a great invention. What this wind powered deminer does is, roll over unexploded landlines which is so wonderful because it keeps so many people safe from harm. This is innovative, I believe this will help create many more convenient things like this that keep our people safe. This can be used during war to help our soldiers, and the best thing about this is that its bamboo and biodegradable plastic parts could be salvaged and reassembled into another Mine Kafon. No helpful recourses have to be used to create another one
"The Pig Wings Project" By, Oron Catts, Ionat Burr, and Guy Ben-Ary. Once I researched about this I automatically put this on the "Low Functionality" category. Basically what this is, is that these men are trying to figure out how to make pigs fly by using human DNA. This project also has pictures of what these people believe how the pig wings would look like. I shouldn't even continue talking about this, I'm sure you guys already think this is ridiculous. I don't think this is useful, at all. I hope I don't sound harsh, but I have no idea how flying pigs is going to benefit us.
Last but not least, "Babel Blocks" By, Constatin Boym, and Laurene Leon Boym of Boym Partners inc. These "Babel Blocks" were designed to spread a message of tolerance, and understanding. These action figures are representing New York's cultural, and religious diversity. I believe this is "low functionality" because if they're trying to spread a message, I don't think they're doing a good job because when I saw them at MoMa that was the first time I have ever seen these action figures. I haven't even heard about them. I like their intentions, but I can't classify this as highly functional.
Ultimately, this is all my opinion. Everyone else may have different opinions, and I love that. I love people pointing out reasons why I'm wrong about a certain thing. People can totally disagree with the things I put in my low, and high functionality categories, but in the end there's no "right" or "wrong" answer when it comes to this.


Toru Iwatani
“Pac-Man”
Video Game
1980-1981

Massoud Hassani
"Mine Kafon Wind-Powered Deminer"
Bamboo & Biodegradable Plastics
2011

Oron Catts, Ionat Burr, and Guy Ben-Ary
The Pig Wings Project"
Pigs
2000-2001

Constatin Boym, and Laurene Leon Boym of Boym Partners inc.
"Babel Blocks"
Blocks
2007-2012