By Oliver Hemming — Source: Studio Designs Limited

World Industrial Design Day, June 29th, is an opportunity for all of us to recognize the value of design and its capacity for change in the world, and how it has enriched our lives in so many ways. This year the focus is on diversity and how designers and design can challenge the status quo and make the industry more inclusive.

Design is one of mankind’s oldest activities and so much part of our lives that people just take it for granted. I can only speak for myself here, and design for me is about connecting with human emotions, such as beauty, touch, interaction and desire. We have all been there, fallen in love with something you see in a shop, and then try to ignore the impulse. But desire gets the better of you, and you rush back to get it, hoping it's still there, and then the emotion of finally owning it and holding it and using it, is just so overwhelmingly perfect. How do objects have that power? Was that what the designer wanted you to feel or is it just something you feel about that particular object.

Well, who knows, and frankly that is why everyone has different tastes. What looks good on you, might look terrible on me! And why we are not all wearing the same clothes or driving the same cars?!

A good design is one that simply solves the problem, does it with style and a touch of charm that says, “I don’t have to try because I have cracked this one”. It's hard to do, and you need to put the human at the centre of the process and understand what will work as an intuitive solution. Think about what the user needs but also don’t forget your own needs of expression and style and individuality that give the design its personal signature.

The little red electric car is undeniably an emotional design, and I wish Nobe electric cars well in their pursuit of getting it into production – and thanks for the picture!

Oliver Hemming
Owner, Founder, CEO & Creative Director
Studio Designs Limited