10 Principles of Guitar Design

[Paul E Buerk]

I'm looking for some feedback on a series of articles I'm doing with guitardesignreviews.com. They're based on taking Dieter Rams' "10 Principles for Good Design" and applying them specifically to guitar design. I'd appreciate the opportunity to hear your opinion. You can find the first article in the series here: http://guitardesignreviews.com/2012/04/ ... nnovation/, then move forward from that. The fourth in the series has just been posted this week, and I've really enjoyed the process.

Charlie and I have bounced a couple PM's between us discussing this post and the rules for posting on the MIMF. We've agreed that any feedback you have should be posted here on the MIMF and not on the guitardesignreviews.com website. Also, I should note a couple disclaimers. First, I'm not being compensated for these articles. Second, there is no advertisement or even a mention of my eBook within the posts on the 10 Principles.

Again, thanks in advance for your feedback and for posting that feedback here.

PB

[Matthew Lau]

While I commend you for choosing several relatively unknown choices, I don't agree on innovation (some "innovations" don't necessarily improve on quality, but detract on it...like CERAC in dentistry).

However, I'd have to say you did a very good write up on esthetics, understandability, and functionality.

I'd like to throw in: Reliability (as averse to functionality, say a Telecaster).
Balance (I'm not sure if this is the right word. The duality of a guitar that's on the edge of imploding and exploding--a world class concert instrument).

[Paul E Buerk]

Matthew, thanks for reading the posts and for your comments. These aren't necessarily my own 10 Principles, just an application of Rams' to the subject of guitar design. My take on it is that he's not saying Innovation is good design, "not an end in itself", but a good design has some degree of innovation in it.

"Reliability" could indeed be rightfully included in anybody's own personal evaluation criteria, and certainly in my own. I think it fits in very well under the heading of "usefulness", and I probably should have included that in the paragraph about "day to day requirements".

"Balance" would be an interesting Principle to consider. During the design process, you're constantly making decisions about how to work within your given Constraints, and at the end evaluating whether or not you've balanced those the way you intended. In your example, having the guitar's intended purpose outweighing it's durability, and possibly a more exhaustive search for materials, technology, and innovation to tip the scale a bit. Since we constantly have to make these decisions during the design phase, I'd probably consider "balance" to be part of the process rather than a Principle, but it's worth thinking of it as one. I don't know Mr. Rams' personally. Perhaps he thought "balance" was assumed, just as it seems that "originality" is assumed.

[Paul E Buerk]

The 5th article, "Good Design is Unobtrusive" has been posted. Here is the link:http://guitardesignreviews.com/2012/06/ ... obtrusive/

[Paul E Buerk]

Article #6 is posted, "Good Design is Honest". Here is the link: http://guitardesignreviews.com/2012/07/ ... -6-honest/

Feedback is always welcome. Thanks - PB

[Paul E Buerk]

#7 - Long Lasting

Just had another article posted in the series: http://guitardesignreviews.com/2012/08/ ... g-lasting/

Thanks - PB

[Paul E Buerk]

#8 - Details

Posted this morning. Let me know what you think.

My verbal abuse of Dieter Rams and his 10 Principles as applied to guitar design continues over at Guitar Design Reviews:

http://guitardesignreviews.com/2012/09/ ... 8-details/

Comments are always welcome. Thanks -