Design Thinking

Ever since I took a serious interest in the origin, principles, and process of design thinking, I've started to look at products in new ways. What used to be simple short-lived frustrations -- with the way an object doesn't work ideally in a way I'd like to use it, for example -- have blossomed into full-blown grievances, often accompanied by a conviction that, with just a little time and effort, I could come up with a much more appealing product.

(Okay, maybe the umbrella isn't
entirely at fault in this case.)

Take, for example, umbrellas. Is the inside of an umbrella not the most uncomfortable place to be? Especially for women, whose hair inevitably becomes tangled in the spokes every time. How many times have you been poked in the eye (or ear or face) by an umbrella user walking with or by you? How many times have you pinched, sliced, bent, or scratched your fingers while opening an umbrella? For me, every time. What a horrible experience!  What drives us to use a product that we know will invoke cursing or weeping with every use?

Which is why, when I look outside and see rain, I automatically run an internal risk analysis: Injury by umbrella vs. flat, wet, mop-like hairstyle for the rest of the day. Usually I opt for freedom from dangerous, encumbering umbrellas and design my outfit around a hat, scarf or hood.

Now, if I were an umbrella manufacturer, hearing a customer (or rather, potential customer) testimonial like this would be a sign of complete and utter failure on my part. Clearly, a pretty new pattern or more ergonomic handle isn't going to win this customer over; the umbrella would have to be completely overhauled before such a person even considers a new purchase.

Nepali Fabric Shop - a photo blog

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

My first fashion blog

It's true.  Some people would scoff at my blog's lack of must-know fashion tips and tricks, but I guess those just don't rank very high up on my things-to-blog-about list.  (This is a real list, by the way.  You see, I have to segue into certain topics. If I just dumped my entire brain on you at once, I'm afraid that the expanse of my random musings may deter you from ever reading again.)  This being said, I will now share with you today's most exciting fashion moments.
While browsing the season's newest offerings at Target this afternoon, I happened upon a beautiful pair of glistening leopard-print pointy-toed flats.  I oohed and awed as was appropriate for the situation, and then looked longingly at the magnificent pair while dreaming up all the ways I could fit them into my wardrobe. To my delight, they were on clearance.  My heart skipped a beat as I realized that the last pair in the whole store was exactly my size.  It was providence.  Four dollars later, I was on my way with the steal of the century.

I know you're probably overwhelmed by this amazing deal.  But just wait, it gets better.
My mom wanted to check out St. Vincent de Paul's, what she explained as the Catholic version of Goodwill. I wasn't expecting to come away with anything as thrilling as my new leopard-print pointy-toed flats, but it was just my lucky day.  While rummaging through a rack of retro belts, in search of something rather normal, something red and shiny caught my eye.  I'm a sucker for shiny things; sometimes I'm no better than a kid in a candy shop.  My eyes popped as I turned that shiny red belt over to read, "Genuine Snakeskin." Really? Only two hundred cents would buy me a red, genuine snakeskin belt?  I just couldn't pass it up.

The fashion gods have smiled on me.