The Evolution of Useful Things A Book by Henry Petroski Here, then, is the central idea: the form of made things is always subject to change in response to their real or perceived shortcomings, their failures to function properly. This principle governs all invention, innovation, ingenuity. Spike and sponShaped and reshapedForm follows failureTheir wrongness is somehow more immediateA small corner of the world of things+23 More The evolution of devices formfunctioninventionprogressfailure
It is a little world See how many a pretty thing I always from the cube can bring: Chair and sofa, bench and table, Desk to write at when I’m able, All the household furniture, Even baby’s bed I’m sure; Not a few such things I see; Stove and sideboard here can be. Many things, both old and new, My dear cube brings into view; So my cube much pleases me, Because through it so much I see. It is a little world. Ellen Lupton & J. Abbott Miller, The ABC's of ▲■●: The Bauhaus and Design Theory Cubed modularity