IA Collaborative is Rereleasing the 70s Design Handbook 'Humanscale'
Joey Haar — July 25, 2017 — Art & Design
References: kickstarter & fastcodesign
It's easy to take for granted how conveniently things are created in order to suit the physical needs of people as a whole, but much of the reason for modern ergonomic design can be traced back to a single source: 'Humanscale.' The industrial design handbook written in the 70s by Niels Diffrient and Alvin R. Tilley, two industrial designers at Henry Dreyfuss Associates, includes tens of thousands of data points for all different types of body measurements. The information in Humanscale remains as relevant today as it ever was, and so IA Collaborative has ventured to reissue the iconic manual through a Kickstarter campaign.
Though Humanscale might be called a handbook, it isn't a book per se. Rather, the manual is divided into nine different 'selectors', which are like slides with a spinning wheel in the middle. That wheel reads different information at the side of the selector, and spinning it reveals different essential measurements throughout the selector for different types of people.
IA Collaborative is packaging the nine selectors into groups of three.
Though Humanscale might be called a handbook, it isn't a book per se. Rather, the manual is divided into nine different 'selectors', which are like slides with a spinning wheel in the middle. That wheel reads different information at the side of the selector, and spinning it reveals different essential measurements throughout the selector for different types of people.
IA Collaborative is packaging the nine selectors into groups of three.
Trend Themes
1. Ergonomic Design - The reissue of 'Humanscale' highlights the importance of ergonomic design, providing opportunities for disruptive innovation in product design and manufacturing.
2. Data-driven Design - 'Humanscale's' inclusion of tens of thousands of data points for body measurements suggests a trend toward data-driven design, creating opportunities for technology companies to develop software and tools for designers.
3. Vintage Reissues - The reissue of 'Humanscale' by IA Collaborative shows the trend of vintage reissues to cater to a modern audience, which could disrupt the publishing and printing industries.
Industry Implications
1. Furniture Manufacturing - The 'Humanscale' reissue offers opportunities for disruptive innovation in furniture manufacturing, specifically in creating products that are more comfortable and safe for people with different body types.
2. Industrial Design - The reissue of 'Humanscale' highlights the importance of data in industrial design, presenting opportunities for companies to create new design tools and software.
3. Publishing - The trend of vintage reissues, as exemplified by IA Collaborative's 'Humanscale' campaign, could disrupt the publishing industry by creating a new market for re-released books and manuals.
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