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    • What would you least like to design?

    Discussion in 'Industrial design' started by GarethW, Jul 12, 2010.

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    1. GarethW

      GarethW Chief Clicker Staff Member

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      Christmas cracker toys? Post sorting machines? Agricultural equipment? Carburettors? Manufacturing test jigs? Nuclear weapons?

      What wouldn't get you out of bed in the morning? :)

      This thread's the opposite of our old "The top 5 things I would like to design are..." thread.

      What would you least like to design and why?

      This is a difficult question. Personally I'd be interested in having a go at most things. Even projects that appear "boring" at first glance may actually involve engineering challenges, production processes and technology that would make it totally worthwhile.

      I'll say "weapons" myself. I wouldn't want to work on a project that would ultimately result in harm to others.
       
      GarethW, Jul 12, 2010
      GarethW, Jul 12, 2010
      #1
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    3. mvalenti

      mvalenti Well-Known Member

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      Building facilities, HVAC, Electrical, or Piping... blahh.... Oh yeah and Printed Circuit Boards...
       
      mvalenti, Jul 13, 2010
      mvalenti, Jul 13, 2010
      #2
    4. GarethW

      GarethW Chief Clicker Staff Member

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      I even feel bored just reading this post :D
       
      GarethW, Jul 13, 2010
      GarethW, Jul 13, 2010
      #3
    5. Pete

      Pete Well-Known Member

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      I’m one of those annoying types who can get into an genuinely find something interesting in everything… apart from toasters.

      So top (bottom) 5 list would go something like this:

      Jewellery
      Toasters
      Cracker Toys (the cheap plastic ones)
      Stoma Pouches
      Sex Toys … I think…
       
      Pete, Jul 14, 2010
      Pete, Jul 14, 2010
      #4
    6. GarethW

      GarethW Chief Clicker Staff Member

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      I wonder who designs them. Imaging having that on your CV :D :oops:

      I agree with you on the jewellery front - I woudn't like to design anything that's purely decorative without function.
      Toasters I also agree on. BORING!
      There's also lots of tat in the homewares sections of supermarkets and department stores that I wouldn't like to be involved with!
       
      GarethW, Jul 14, 2010
      GarethW, Jul 14, 2010
      #5
    7. Pete

      Pete Well-Known Member

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      I knew someone who did a placement at a company who designed an adapter to put on the end of an electric toothbrush...
       
      Pete, Jul 14, 2010
      Pete, Jul 14, 2010
      #6
    8. GarethW

      GarethW Chief Clicker Staff Member

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      Just thought of some more:

      Fire extinguishers
      Screws
      Vacuum cleaners
      Lots of the things you see on Dragons' Den (shed security device springs to mind)
       
      GarethW, Jul 20, 2010
      GarethW, Jul 20, 2010
      #7
    9. kenny82

      kenny82 Well-Known Member

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      did u see that washing line rotator the other day on Dragon's Den. I would shoot myself if someone asked me to design that!!!!

      and there was the stupid outdoor fridge. Whaaaaat??? :D :lol: :?
       
      kenny82, Jul 23, 2010
      kenny82, Jul 23, 2010
      #8
    10. Dana

      Dana Well-Known Member

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      You know those "crane" machines you see at arcades and some other places? The kind that have a glass tank filled with plush toys and such, you put your coins in and guide the crane jaws to [hopefully] pick up a toy and drop it in the collection chute. Of course the toy the kid wants is always wedged under several undesirable items. Well, the jaws don't work very well, they're not supposed to, and that would bother me... designing a machine deliberately not intended to work well!

      Regarding sex toys, I know another engineer who claims to have done just that. Large mechanical devices for the porn industry, think gearmotors and crank arms and linkages and linear motion components attached to... yeah, too much information...
       
      Dana, Sep 14, 2010
      Dana, Sep 14, 2010
      #9
    11. swertel

      swertel Active Member

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      On one of the freelance websites I use, there was a posting looking for an engineer to design some adult toys. I just couldn't bring myself to bid on that job.

      1) I have no idea what materials to start with or what "industry" specifications I have to follow. FDA?
      2) I freelance from home (obviously). Can you imagine what my kids would ask if they saw me reverse engineering one of those?
       
      swertel, Sep 15, 2010
      swertel, Sep 15, 2010
      #10
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