Design better

As someone who has spent a great deal of time working on art or craft projects, finding ways to make something work, fit, feel or look better, it still amazes me how little details can ruin an otherwise great design. These are often not what people would call design issues at all, as they often stem from manufacturing, but looking at an object and its use holistically, I would say that they are failures to see things through to the end. Producers and makers who attend even to the small details gain loyal customers. Sitting waiting for my tea to brew (in a mug) this morning, here are a few bug bears, and - yes - most relate to T'ai Chi gear!

Shoe brands changing their sizes and widths arbitrarily - for instance the new Vivo Barefoot styles are thinner than previously, crazy, as their USP is wider shoes. 

Otherwise great clothes with tickly, scratchy labels that rub against your bare skin and can't be removed without ruining the seam stitching. Most brands fail to attend to this detail and go for embellished itchy labels right against your skin. 

Tea pots which drip from the spout. Hundreds of years of British tea drinking and still most pots drip. Please let me know if you find one that doesn't! The only one I know not to drip is my small handmade one from Findrorn pottery. They drip in Ireland too... but the tea is great. 

Chinese made T'ai Chi weapons of the last decade. Variable quality, randomly interchanged materials and still somewhat floppy when supposedly rigid. They used to be so good! Quality control is sorely lacking, especially with Long Quan gear. They are resting on their laurels...

Womens outdoor gear. Apparently women like to stand out violently against the landscape in bright hues and never need to put anything in big pockets. If I want roomy hard-wearing trousers, well-made garments or a forest friendly colour, it seems I must buy men's gear. 

I expect you could add many more, do let me know. An occasional gripe keeps the doctor away, they say. These are all simple design issues, or caused by shoddiness in sizing, materials or manufacture. Perhaps things will improve. This small blog post is my way of saying to the makers - make things better!