A classic design or a design classic is a manufactured product that has timeless aesthetic appeal. Regardless in what year or time period it still remains at a high standard. A classic design is instantly recognisable and will provoke different emotional responses, for example, nostalgia, wow factor, a want or hate. These designs are often referred to iconic. The longevity of a classic design suggests quality and the continued demand for such products is not dependent on heavy marketing or advertising, although this often takes place to reinforce the status and remind new generations of consumers of the intrinsic value of the classic design.
Image
Image makes a classic design instantly recognisable and provokes emotional reactions.
- Highly recognisable aesthetics
- Representational of an external form
- Evokes emotional attachement
- Examples include the shape of the coca cola bottle or the Volkswagen Beatle
Status and culture
Classic design can increase in value and can project a certain status as they become more desirable.
A classic design can indicate the social position of an individual.
- Increase the perceived status of a person
- Connections with the elite class
- Conveys a feeling of satisfaction
- A feeling of owning a rarity
Culture
Design classics can reflect cultural influences.
It may be a national or religious cultural influence, e.g. Vegemite is strongly associated with Australia.
It may concern a sub-culture such as a particular youth culture or movement. For example, UK skinhead's footwear were Dr Martens boots with its yellow stitching.
Evokes emotional attachments, nostalgia and a sense of belonging.
Obsolescence
Is something becoming obsolete or of no longer any use. Consumer electronics such as mobile phones fall into this category.
- A classic design defies obsolescence
- It is timeless
- It is still a desired object long after they have ceased to be manufacture
- A classic design transcends its original function
- Its unchanging design spans time
Mass Production
Mass production contributes to a product reaching classic design status such as the Volkswagen.
- being mass-produces spanning decades leads to it being ever present or omnipresent.
- Mass production made cards affordable so it sold well
- Mass- Production made them easily available
- Its simple design lent itself to mass production
Ubiquitous/Omnipresence
- A classic design often has a constant presence, or omnipresence, in a rapidly changing context and has been in constant circulation
Dominant Design
A dominant design contains those implicit features of a product that are recognised as essential by a majority of manufacturers and purchasers.
Classic designs that are also dominant designs in the market place are difficult to change them
- because it is popular or omnipresencent
- Those that have defied obsolescence and have been a round a long time tend to have emotional attachments
- Nostalgia
- Dominant design has been around a while, if it changes not so recognisable and the company could risk profits.
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