Design Matters

ThinkPad T410

Even though there is considerable buzz about the ThinkPad Edge line, lets not forget our heritage.  We just announced four new ThinkPad classic offerings continuing the legacy of design and technology innovation for business. The T410s, T410, T510 and the W510 workstation are all new models with enhancements to processor performance, battery life and wireless technologies. You can read the detailed press release here. What is most interesting for this blog, however, are the improvements we made to the design and user experience. If you are a fan of the work we did on the T400s you will love these new rock solid ThinkPads.

All the new models use the same updated keyboard and controls we first introduced on the T400s. This includes the larger escape and delete keys, tighter key-skirt tolerances, enhanced volume/mute controls, and of course the flush textured touchpad. You can read entire  blogs I wrote about all of these updates when we first introduced the T400s. Also gone are the off centered displays that were driven by the previous level antenna design. Thanks to Yamato engineering for fixing this one without sacrificing performance. Having now used a T400s for months, I can attest to the significance of these improvements to the user experience. The thinking and testing that went into these updates was enormous and has paid off. If you are a classic lover these are the systems for you.

David Hill

 Barbour International Jacket

A recent trip to participate in a vintage off road motorcycle race prompted me to write another of my design classic blog postings. Riding vintage race bikes through the woods in the cool of the morning brings out the best in riders and their riding gear.  Many of the participants elect to wear period gear to further enhance the experience of the event. I personally draw the line at critical protective equipment like helmets or boots, but vintage jackets are certainly fair game. One of my favorites is the Barbour International Jacket. First introduced into production in 1936 this British masterpiece of design is both stylish and utilitarian. Thankfully, the jacket is still available in it’s original form some 73 years later. 

Steve McQueen at the 1964 ISDT astride his Triumph

The Barbour International was worn by every British National Motorcycle Team from 1936-1977. At the T.T. Isle of Man Race in 1965 over 95% of all competitors wore a Barbour International, no matter what country they represented. This jacket is clearly part of motorcycle history and can be seen on many of the all time greats. Steve McQueen even wore one in the 1964 ISDT competition where he was part of  team USA. The event was held in East Germany that year. Steve was much more than just a movie star. He usually raced motorcycles under the pseudonym Harvey Mushman to avoid contractual issues with movie studios. During WW II the Barbour Jacket became the official Submarine Commanders coat and on the battle fields of Europe many a soldier prepared to defend Queen and country proudly wearing their Barbour.

Glove friendly zipper pull

Crafted from traditional waxed cotton, the jacket is durable,weatherproof, and stylish. It’s not just the cut of the jacket or the construction materials that make this jacket a classic, the attention to design details are also very important. The zippers are massive brass units that employ a glove friendly pull ring. Have you ever tried to adjust the zipper on your jacket while riding a dirt bike? The left breast pocket is cleverly angled to fascilitate reaching for your scorecard with your right hand while the left can still operate the clutch. That’s the kind of design thinking I enjoy. The snaps are military grade brass that fasten with a  loud but reassuring sound, two are used to secure the pocket flaps. One would never do for such a jacket. A traditional belt keeps the wind from finding it’s way into where it shouldn’t be. The thornproof waxed cotton exterior and Barbour Tartan liner works wonderfully to keep you protected and warm, but for those especially cold outings there is a optional liner available.

You may never be quite as cool as Steve McQueen, but you can at least own the same jacket. I love riding with mine.

David Hill

Authenticity is a word that is used a lot in the design world. The concept is not new, we talked about this when I was in design school in the 70’s, but there seems to be a heightened level of interest and discussion regarding the topic.  For me the idea of authenticity has a lot to do with honesty and a celebration of what is original or authentic. There is a wonderful book written by James Gilmore and Joe Pine on this subject called Authenticity: What Customers Really Want.  The book is really interesting and contains lots of discussion about brands or experiences that have this quality,  and those that wish they did. The basic premise of the book is that consumers today crave authenticity. Faux is out. I personally have a theory that in tough economic times this may be even more true. Would you rather purchase a tried and true high quality classic, or an unknown phony trying to be something that it isn’t? 

Levi’s 501 Jeans, 1947 Reissue

Highly authentic products are not hard to find. America is full of them.  Levi Strauss blue jeans, Alden “Indy” boots, Harley Davidson’s Sportster, and Ray Ban Aviators are originals that defy change. Levi’s has introduced an updated 501 jean that looks more authentic than ever. They retrospecitvely looked into their over 125 year history to move forward. Incredible as it may seem, you can  buy 1947 reissue versions just like your grandpa might have worn, including the use of selvage denim so stiff they could stand by themselves . Unfortunately, Grandpa would cringe at todays price. The Levi Strauss corporate website brilliantly includes a heritage link that will help to determine if your oldest pair of jeans are collectible. In some extreme cases they will buy them for their museum. Even people can be authentic, Bob Dylan is at the top of my list. I heard that he has just recorded a new album. I bet is sounds like him. It’s easy to be authentic if you are.

Typical Food Court    

If you are in search of an authentic experience take a stroll down a side street in Paris looking for a nice bistro in which to enjoy a bite to eat. That is a true  authentic experience. A visit to the  food court  at the local shopping mall is not. My least favorite contrived experience is a visit to  one of those new shopping malls that trys to duplicate the appearance of an authentic downtown. Styrofoam stick on architecturual details, confused parking schemes, pedestrian unfriendly traffic patterns, and the usual food chains is just more than I can stand.  Too bad people don’t really go to downtown.  

I recently saw a talk that Joe Pine delivered at a TED conference where he summarized  three rules to remember regarding authenticity. I think they are good ones.

1. Don’t say you are authentic unless you really are authentic

2. It’s easier to be authentic if you don’t say you’re authentic

3. If you say you are authentic you better be authentic

So in the spirit of  “do as I say,not as I do” , I’m going to violate the rules. I’m a firm believer that ThinkPad is a brand and design full of authenticity. It is a true original now more than 15 years in the making. We have a heritage unlike that of any notebook computer brand to draw upon. I think this gives us an advantage in todays world. In case you have not noticed there are many competitve notebook computers now moving into our space with similar appearance. Notice I said similar. Joe Pine might not be quite so kind.

I will be the first to admit that ThinkPad is not perfect, we continue to refine and improve the  breed, but we have always built on who we are. This is a journey with no final destination.  Before our latest versions are even on the market we are already working on the next generation ideas.  What would you do to make the next generation ThinkPad even better?  Would you look into the past?  Would you simplify the design essence even more?  Would you remove all the visible screws and labels? Why not spin the logo upside down?  Offer it in a variety of colors? How about a racing stripe ?  Heaven forbid, should we just start over with a totally clean sheet of paper? I would love to hear your comments on this subject.

 The Authentic ThinkPad X300

With regard to authenticity, perhaps Shakespeare said in best in his play Hamlet. “To thine own self be true, and as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”

David Hill

You never know where you might discover a classic of modern design. People sometimes end up with classics without even knowing it. Maybe they inherited a Eames chair from Uncle Bob that just doesn’t look right next to their button tufted wingback. Perhaps they got a set of salt and pepper shakers designed by a Bauhaus master for a wedding present, but they just didn’t fit with their traditional lead crystal pattern. What happens to these misunderstood masterpieces? More often than not they sadly end up in a storage unit, the attic, or the cabinet nobody ever opens. My favorite is when they show up at garage sales, thrift stores, or on eBay.

A designer friend of mine once bought a fully functional typewriter designed by Ettore Sottsass at the local Goodwill store for $5.00. The model he scored was the Olivetti Praxis 48 released in 1964. It is a true beauty that you can see at design museums all over the world. Sottsass creatively juxtaposed hard ribbed forms with soft  colorful keys that make me smile every time I see them. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.  

Olivetti Praxis 48

I personally have a few rescues to my credit as well, including a set of salt and pepper shakers designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld in 1952. It took me about 2 seconds to snatch them out of the relatives Goodwill-bound box. They look as good on my table as they do in the Museum of Modern Art. I’m still hoping to score one of his lamp designs for next to nothing at a neighborhood garage sale. It doesn’t hurt to dream.

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“Max and Moritz”  Salt and Pepper Set

A few months ago I spotted an original ThinkPad 700c on eBay and could not resist bidding on it. It was missing a few parts, had broken hinges, and generally looked a bit tired, but it needed to be rescued. It even had the original TrackPoint cap made from slippery smooth red rubber.  This version pre-dates the classic cat tongue that was developed for enhanced traction.  I ended up winning the auction with a bid of $19.00, a rather significant reduction in price from the original MSRP of $4,350 in 1992.

ThinkPad 700c Circa 1992

Although 56mm is very thick by today’s standards, the design is astonishingly simple. It truly is a black box with a very clean under side that challenges my thinking of how we build ThinkPads today. My long term goal is to build a pristine 700c . To accomplish this I will need to rescue several machines and assemble the best parts to make one  perfect one.  If anyone has a 700c they would like to donate to the cause please let me know. I guarantee it will have a good home.

David Hill 

The high intensity Lytegem Lamp designed by Michael Lax  in 1965 has recently been reintroduced by Lightolier. Michael Lax designed some true modern classics for companies such as Copco, Lightolier, and others.  He was very active as a designer until his unfortunate death in 1999. The lamps simplicity of concept and execution is stunning , and perhaps more in style than ever. Mod is back. The base is weighted for tabletop use or it can be wall mounted with a included bracket. The telescopic rod extends from 6.5″ to 15″and the head swivels 360 degrees. The lamps brightness can be adjusted easily with a switch on the base.

Wall Mounting  

I personally like the visual connection between the red version and ThinkPad. Simple black box with a round red accent, sound familiar?

David Hill

Steve Hamm’s new book The Race for Perfect is finally released. The book builds and expands on the cover story BusinessWeek Magazine article that Steve co-authored about the design and development of the Lenovo ThinkPad X300.  I finally managed to carve out enough time to read my copy of the book. Unfortunately it’s been hard for me to squeeze in reading something other than e-mails lately. The book did not disappoint me, it’s both entertaining and an accurate portrayal of the Kodachi story.  It also goes beyond the X300 story to include a detailed history of portable computing. Yes, there was life before ThinkPad.

Of course I instantly scanned the index looking for Kodachi references and possible embarrassing David Hill quotes. After all, I did interviews on a monthly basis with Steve for well over a year and a half. Who knows what I might have told him in the heat of passion that ended up in print. I am pleased to report that Steve did a great job protecting me from myself, and more importantly telling a great story. I may have a bit of “cultural backwater” explaining to do the next time I head back to my hometown Bartlesville, Oklahoma, but the portrayal is certainly not without substance. Sorry but you will have to read the book to totally understand this reference. For the “backwater” record, Bartlesville is the home of the Price Tower, the only true skyscraper ever designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, but I must admit that cultural milestone was a very long time ago in Bartlesville history.

In my opinion Steve has written a great book. It’s a very informative chronicle of portable computing and the rich technology and design history that accompanies it. His writing style is engaging and the story is easy to follow. The early history of how ThinkPad was born is still fascinating to me. Congrats to my friends Richard Sapper for his design  vision and Tom Hardy for his corporate perseverance. It was truly a pleasure working with Steve on this historic endeavour. My sincere congratulations to him for this accomplishment. I recommend that all fans of portable computing and especially ThinkPad design enthusiasts check it out. This one is a must read.

As Steve points out in his book , the race for perfect is never really over. We continue to strive to create the ultimate ThinkPad.  Who knows, maybe Steve is already working on his next book.

David Hill

Music pioneer Bo Diddley passed away yesterday at the age of 79. His driving rhythms and unique hard edge sound paved the transition between blues and rock and roll. Not only was he a influential guitarist and musician, but he was also a designer. His self-designed totally rectangular guitar nicknamed “The Twang Machine” was tremendously innovative and will forever be associated with his unique persona. A fellow Lenovian and guitar enthusiast went so far as to make a similar guitar out of a ThinkPad a few years ago. Yes it really works.

Bo will be greatly missed in both the music and design worlds. He was quite the man.

David Hill

Sooner or later it happens to all good ThinkPads. The performance curve starts to lag, some new highly desirable feature is introduced, the newer ones are thinner/lighter, and before you know it, the “new computer bug” bites you. Typically, people like to discuss the intimate details of what new ThinkPad to buy. The purchase decision often takes months of research and in depth analysis. Oddly enough, we rarely discuss what to do with the old one. We usually become very attached to them, a bit like a trusted and time tested friend. I personally have a stack at home of nearly every ThinkPad I have ever used. The Hill archive looks like a neatly stacked cord of all black firewood. Most of them still boot up. I could tell you about each machine’s unique personality, where they have been, and even their secret quirks.

Following the BusinessWeek article, I received a great letter from a ThinkPad owner and fellow Oklahoman that felt compelled to share with me the story of his vintage ThinkPad 510C. This was an early example of the subnote class of ThinkPad. He wrote a touching story articulating his love for the machine he purchased in 1994 and how he could not bear to throw it away. So what did he do? He sent it to me via FedEx . It arrived neatly wrapped including all the original manuals, floppy disks, cables, and all the accessories. It looks almost new with nary a scratch or ding. Even the original TrackPoint cap looks fresh. He asked me to either keep it in our archives if we had such a thing, or as he put it “just give it a good burial as I can’t do it.” Truth be told, I can’t stand to throw it in the trash bin either.

I now have the “little guy” proudly on display in our design studio as an early example of ThinkPad achievement, but more importantly to remind me of how strongly people feel about ThinkPad. We aren’t just designing lifeless machines out of plastic and metal. If we do our job well, we are creating an emotional bond and a trusted friend. This is what a real brand is all about. Don’t worry Thomas, your friend is in good hands. Thanks for thinking of me.

David Hill

Enough suspense, it’s time to reveal what this thing really does. There were lots of very creative and humorous attempts, a few actually got pretty close. The machine was created, notice I did not use the term designed, to cut grooves in concrete so that a fresh layer of blacktop adheres properly. Imagine a few dozen diamond crusted blades spinning wildly as the concrete dust is flying. I’m sure the sound must have been deafening as it crawled down the highway at speeds of close to 1 MPH. The racing steering wheel makes so much sense now doesn’t it? The company would nearly give the beast away if you signed up to buy the blades from them. If you have ever purchased a diamond encrusted cutting blade, or anything else for that matter, you understand this business model perfectly. Glad you enjoyed the story about this one from my archives.

David Hill

Over 25 years ago I was working at a design consulting firm eager to test my skills in the real design world. I was more than willing to challenge the status quo and elevate the design quality for every project I could get my hands on. I had dreams of changing the world one design at a time. I was stopped dead in my tracks, however, when our office took on a new client that specialized in creating hearses. Thats right, hearses. To me this was one of the most ridiculous projects we could ever have been asked to apply design horsepower to. I immediately was asked by the VP of the firm to create about a dozen or so concepts for a client review the following week. Now what was I going to do?

I decided the most ethical approach was to protest the entire project by creating the most ridiculous concept ever . A pure joke. I immediately drew a side view illustration of a hearse sporting a stainless steel targa band right off a Porsche 911.

What I failed to consider was how poorly armed most people are to make fundamental design decisions. The CEO of the hearse company loved the idea and rushed it to market. For them it was a totally new look and had the added benefit of hiding a pesky weld seam. Didn’t he understand how ridiculous it was to suggest speed or sportiness for a hearse?

For me the lesson learned was simple. Never show a client an idea that you are not truly comfortable with, even if it is a joke. To my dismay the targa banded hearse has since been propagated across the entire industry. I think I’ll pass.

David Hill