Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 7
Pretenders and Misleaders
in Product Design
ABSTRACT
Meaningful messages may be conveyed in product design with the use of pretenders as the carriers of
hidden messages; they refer to visual practices in design, architecture, and visualization. For this reason,
they may be useful for working projects in further chapters. The notions of iconic objects, or iconcity
of an object, make a basis of product semantics. Proper design versus pretenders, misleaders, inform-
ers, double-duty gadgets, and multitasking tools are discussed and then contrasted with the notion of
camouflage.
INTRODUCTION
with shortcuts. We use signs, symbols, icons
and metaphors, connotations and associations
to create open or closed messages depending on
our intention: whether we want to be understood
exactly as intended, or we'd allow for imaginative
interpretation.
Object design has to fulfill functional, er-
gonomically oriented, aesthetic, material, and
space related demands. Various trends in product
design aim for comfort, simplicity, elaboration,
Themes contained in this chapter describe the
concerns that may be common for perceptual rep-
resentation of scientific concepts and the product
design. For this reason concepts related to product
semantics may be useful for working projects up
in further chapters. When we communicate online,
send a voicemail, or use visualization to convey
our message or information, we often interact
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-4703-9.ch007
