Form follows function… but what is the function?

The idea that form should follow function is the most influential idea in product design and architecture from the beginning of the 20th century. The concept was originally developed in this form by the architect Louis Sullivan, who is known as „the father of the skyscraper.“ According to the principle, the form of an object or parts of a building should only be influenced by the mechanical or structural function that the object was supposed to serve.

This guiding principle of modernist architecture and product design, meant that all „unnecessary“ ornamentation was abolished, as ornamentation didn‘t serve any purpose in the mechanical or structural function. This opposition to ornamentation is what has made architecture and industrial design of the 20th century fundamentally very different from architecture and product design from before the 1900‘s. Before the 20th century, buildings and things were often richly ornamented, which we collectively call traditional styles.

High-technological function

As I see it, the rule of form follows function, and minimalist or somewhat minimalist modernism, has been the guiding principle in the design of majority of home audio and home cinema devices in the past 50 years or so. The emphasis has been on audio components, loudspeakers, and portable equipment that are most often boxy, black or grey, minimalist devices, and most often with very clear inspirations of being advanced, technological devices. Sometimes wood veneer is visible on loudspeakers, and from time to time, audio electronic components also had wooden panels on the sides, for decoration.

There has been a certain tendency to a „one solution fits all“ approach. You can have any kind of devices setup as long as it is a mostly monochromatic and boxy, black, grey, or perhaps wooden brown.

The thinking in their design, the „visual vocabulary“ if we can call it that, seems to be that the build and style of these devices should show that they are highly advanced technological devices. It is this technological advancement that ensures the high-quality delivery of sound, which is the purpose of these equipment. These are technological, electronic devices with a technological function: To process the musical signal, being digital or analogue, amplify the signal and deliver the analog signal to the amplifiers who then create the pressure sound waves in the air so that the listener can hear the intended sound and music.

There are some in the audiophile and home audio electronics world who insist that this is the only thing that matters. The technology inside these devices, which ensures the delivery of the music or sound, is the only important thing. Nothing else matters than the technology, and the quality of the sound that this technology delivers. That should be very clear when you look at them. Form follows function.

What is the actual function?

If you would survey a cross-section of users, about what function these devices have in their lives, and what function it was that they were interested in when they obtained the device, then what would the majority of the answers be about?

How many would say that they were very interested in the advanced technology? For those individuals, it makes great sense that the visual design conveys a strong message that these are highly advanced technological devices. Without doubt, some would say that. These are the ones who attend high-end audio shows, for instance. An interesting question is, how many are they as a percentage of the general public.

There is another option, regarding what the answers would be: How many would say that they were mainly interested in experiencing music (and also the soundtrack of movies and other TV programs when the sound system was part of a home cinema system)? How many would say they wanted to experience the beauty or thrill of music, be it opera or classical music, jazz or blues, country western, rock, pop or rap?

In that case, the important function would actually be to deliver music, which is an art form that some say speaks directly to the soul. In many ways, the home audio system are the devices that connect the person in the strongest and most direct way to emotional experiences, the experience of music.

Of those who are most interested in music, how many would say that they aren‘t very interested in the technology itself? They want the technology to be there, and they want it to work well, but they aren‘t that interested in the technology apart from that, and don‘t admire the technology, so to speak?

(Actually, I already have data on this, so I can tell you that this group is very significant in size compared to those who are interested in the technology as such, but let‘s continue…)

What is the best form?

If form follows function, what would be the most desirable form, meaning forms and colors, in the design of these audio devices? What would be the best forms and colors for those who are mostly interested in experiencing the art of music in a deeply moving way?

The answer of course is probably different for different groups, based on their personal interests. Understanding who these groups are, and their preferences are, could be very important. A question to ask different types of consumers, based on demographic segmentation, would for instance be: „If you are mainly interested in experiencing the beauty and thrill of music, what kind of forms and colors in the visual design of these devices would give you a visual experience that best fits with that when you would look at these devices in your home, listening to the music of your desire? What would fill your heart with warmth, and make you anticipate a great experience?“

And a second question to ask, of course, is what kind of taste this person has, in terms of the style that this person would desire to have on things in her or his home. Then also, how the visual influence based on the musical experience would best harmonize with the interior decoration style that is most desired by that person?

That could give us a set of answers, perhaps for different, easily definable groups, as to what would be the best forms (and colors) to follow the actual, most important function of these devices. Because we can agree, that form should follow function?

The three functions

The point is, that home audio electronics don‘t only have the very important function of being highly advanced technological devices. There are in fact two other functions. So in all there are three functions, and for some people, to be strongly reminded all the time of the technological qualities and technological functioning of the devices may even not be of primary importance. We can even call it function #3. Here are the three functions:

Function 1: Connect you with music

For most users, what is most important about these devices is to bring the experience of the beauty and thrill of music (or TV and movie soundtracks) into the home-owner‘s life, as we said here before. Then there is another function which is active all the time, and it doesn‘t matter if the makers of these devices, or those who buy them and use them want it or not.

Function 2: Be there and be visible

Home audio devices have the secondary „function“ that they are visible in the room where they are placed. They will have an overall effect on the style, or visual atmosphere of the room where it is situated. That is a fact, regardless of if that function is wanted or not, or if the home-owner has realized that this is a function. They have a decorative effect, for good or bad depending on the style of the room, and the personal taste of the owner. Whether the owner likes the way that the equipment looks or not, and whether the owner thinks that their look harmonizes well with other things in the room, thus can have an effect on how happy the owner is about having these equipment-objects in his or her home.

Of course, it matters how sensitive the person is to this factor. Some are that very much, while others are less so. We know for sure that the greatest part of people will experience one of these three feelings about bringing these equipment into their room, into their home, and to have them in front of their eyes for years to come: They either like it, they dislike it, or they are indifferent. The big question is, how large are these groups?

Function 3: Being technologically capable

For those people who buy and use these devices, the audio quality is of course important. Home audio electronics are technological devices, that is true. Thus, of course, it matters to them that the technology is doing its job well, in relation to the price that the home-owner paid for the devices. But I have doubts that it is always the best solution, that this strongly focused technological image in the visual design of home audio electronics is at the forefront.

It is quite possibly very important for a certain group, meaning audiophile techno-geeks who are (currently) the primary customers in the so-called high-end audio market. But very probably, for other demographic groups, it could be a very good idea to ask how the other two „functions“ could influence the situation. These two functions are the musical and decorative function. The technological advancement of the devices is important, but these people perhaps don‘t have to be reminded of it every time they look at the device, as the primary and perhaps the only „visual message“ that the design of the device conveys.It could be a good idea to explore ways of finding a better match with those needs in the visual design and styling of these devices. That is of course what the Desaudio project is doing.

Form should follow three functions – and strike a balance

The fundamental idea is that form should follow function.

Actually, it isn‘t one function. It is three functions. It‘s music function, it‘s the „being visible“-function, and then it‘s the function of the high-tech gear inside the devices.

How you strike the balance between these three functions for different demographic groups, and how that leads to a conclusion about the visual design, the forms, colors and look of the devices, could have a very strong effect on how desirable these devices are, compared to a myriad of other things that consumers may desire to obtain.

How you solve the riddle that form should follow the functions could have a very big effect indeed. The demographic data on consumer interests and the most popular interior decoration styles indicate that very strongly.

Do you want to read more? Chapter 2 is also available:

Chapter 2: The „Places“ Where Designers Are At Play And The „Place“ Where Little Is Happening