Form Helps Function vs Form Follows Function

Form Helps Function Vs. Form Follows Function.
Ever since the phrase ‘form follows function’ was coined in 1896 and more so since the creation of the Bauhaus, it has been believed by many that the less is more approach is the best way to go about design. That, if you make a product to do its sole purpose, with no bells and whistles and just the bare bones of design, that that is good design. Now I am not saying that this is wrong or that it is a bad thing, that style of design has its own merits and its own place in the timeline of design. But I believe that the form of a design can help the functionality of the product. There are a number of aspects to take into consideration with this subject, what is the product? Is the form a part of its function? The ergonomics of a product and how are people intended to interact with the product? An example of how form helps function could be: you have a chair that was simple and functional in design, but would it be comfortable? Wouldn’t a chair design that has taken comfort into account and has a form that was comfortable be a better product? During this essay I intend to look at a variety of different products and situations where the form of a product is an integral part of its overall design and function to show how form helps function rather than the form being an afterthought.
Let us begin with a brief step by step on how some aspects of form help the function of a product, shall we? * Size > heavier > stronger > longer lasting (durable) > a better product. * Size > lighter > moveable > more travel friendly > a better product. * Shape > ergonomics > ease of use > a better product. * Interaction > understandable > self-explanatory > ease of use > a better product. * Interaction > hardness/softness > comfort > a better product.
As you can see there are a number of things that can be taken into account with the form of a product that will