Images speak. They speak of times past, of progress, creativity and the transformation of ideas. The goal and basic concepts are timeless. Often, it is only new materials and technologies that affect the shape of a tool or appliance. The mechanism, or the motion that is required to obtain a specific result, remains the same through time. In many cases, it is timeless.

We find clever ways to reduce the weight of equipment and the steps required to accomplish a task. Perhaps there is only a single question, one asked decade after decade, use after use: “How can we simplify this?” Then, once evolution takes its course and an object becomes obsolete, we call it vintage and turn it into a collector’s item or give it a new life, because we cannot help but seek to create something new.

Juicer Then

Juicer Now

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Blender Then

Variation on the theme

Blender Now

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Humidifier Then

Humidifier Now

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Food Strainer Then

Variation on the theme

Food Strainer Now... and for generations to come!

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Lawn Mower Then

Ha! The questions begin...

Variation on the theme

Lawn Mower Now

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Pressure Cooker Then

"World Under Pressure" by Morocco artist Batoul S’Himi

Pressure Cooker Now

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Is there a point where a tool or appliance reaches its optimal expression? Generation after generation, we adopt new household appliances and rave about their new modern design, the ease of use, the clever new functions and so on. This is it, we think. We are amazed by the “clumsiness” of some older versions. But for those who lived at the time their version arrived on the market, it was a true innovation. Every version is an innovation.

Perhaps the main difference in this progression, today, is that question again, “How can we simplify this?” We have reached a time in history when many of the devices we use truly do not require  improvement. Instead, it is manufacturing methods and material availability that dictate the next step. Also, our perception of design changes as we become more acutely interested in our impact on the environment. What will we think of next?