Inner Turmoil of Great Design

Did you ever see a product or something that you didn’t know if you loved it or hated it? You couldn’t make up your mind if it was ugly or beautiful? I think that inner turmoil is a sign of great design, and the creative minds behind the design strive for this polarization.

Here are a few personal examples I can remember.

Air Jordan XI. When the AJXI first came out, it was a sight with that black patent leather. What was Nike and MJ thinking including patent leather on a basketball shoe? It’s so gaudy that only freaky deaky individuals would wear these. But take a second look then a third look. That gaudy sight gradually becomes a beautiful, creative work of art. In fact, next to the Chuck Taylors and Converse Weapons, the AJXI might be one of the most legendary shoes in the kicks world. Want a line of shoe fiends in front of your kicks store? Release a retro of the Elevens, and you’ll get guys (and gals) salivating.

Air Max 95. The same goes for the AM95. Back in 1995 when these running shoes hit the market, I couldn’t stand them. The bubbles, the lines, the colors, there was too much. I hated them, but another look here, another look there, then the true beauty of the AM95 started to shine. More than a decade later, the AM95 are still in high demand.

Toyota Celica. I had an older Celica and loved the curvy lines. Then Toyota redesigned the Celica to its current look, and I was bewildered. The “new” Celica has harder, angular lines. Yuck! But then you see these cars on the road and you notice its aggressive, sleeker look and ugly becomes beautiful.

Toyota Highlander 2008. This is a recent one where at first glance I wasn’t too impressed. But after seeing a Highlander closer up, I noticed some of the changes and had to change my stance.

Pontiac Aztek. Nope, sorry the Aztek is still ugly. Let me think again. Yup, still ugly. No turmoil here, just ugliness. Not even Jessica Alba saving the day in an Aztek in the futuristic Dark Angel series could save this eyesore.

So the next time you see something and can’t quite decide if you love it or hate it then you just might be witnessing the next hot thing.

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