QUALITY DESIGN : just what is it?  

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Or is it as I fear,varied things to varied people...

fraid so
i think good design is different things to different people. To me for instance,it doesnt matter how clever or how useful it is or whether its been made from the latest supersonic materials,if it dont look good i dont want it.Is that so bad?.

Just to start
the discussion: I think an important quality of design is to have a relation between the technical life-span (how long it will last) and it"s cultural life-span (how long it will last from a cultural/aesthetical point of view) I am not happy with the graphic design of the week's promotional Wal-mart brochure, but I can live with it, in our home it lasts 2 seconds. Although I am not an active participant,I like fashion in clothing because in most cases the product will be worn out or washed away by the time the fashion has passed. But I am offended by buildings with cheap references to almost seasonal trends, because inevitably they will be there for decades...if not longer. So for me a first criteria is that consistency

SILVERWARE
is notable,it follows fashion, changes constantly and yet even the poor quality stainless can last a many many years...