To think on why choose one among so many designs available for us. This improve thought of choosing, also thought of designing.

1. Designs
Collected By: Kranthi

2. Plugging in a USB connector
• The USB connectors are practically universal on computers
today. I use one almost everyday to connect a mouse to my
laptop computer. My problem is that when I try to plug the USB
connector in, I frequently turn it the wrong way. I have seen
other people have this problem. It is difficult to tell just by
looking which way it plugs in. Usually, manufacturers print the
USB symbol on "top" of the connector so if the connector is
oriented horizonally, the symbol faces up. That doesn't help if
the connector needs to plug in vertically. The USB symbol
usually isn't very salient either. This is not a huge problem.
When you try to plug it in the wrong way, it doesn't go in. You
just need to flip it over and plug it in. But the problem is
persistent. I still catch myself doing this occasionally, even
though I know it is a problem. There are more than a billion
of these connectors in use today. Even if a billion
people make this mistake only once and only lose a
second correcting the mistake, the lost time adds up to
31 years.
• Design suggestion
• If the connector could be inserted either way and work, or if it
was asymmetrical, like the mini USB connector in Photo A.,
which plugs into B., this problem would be solved.

3. Doors without windows
• Here is another example of doors without
windows. This picture shows a set of doors
in the hallway of a university building.
Imagine reaching to pull open these doors
just when someone on the other side is
pushing them open.
Here is a picture of a set of doors in the
same hallway as the doors above. These
doors have built-in windows so that you can
see if there are people on the other side of
the door.
• Design suggestion
• Make sure your design provides displays of
everything a person needs to see.

4. Mechanical pencils
• Here are two mechanical pencils. The one above
has some pretty annoying features. The eraser is
under a cap (shown removed). If you make a lot
mistakes like I do, you will be constantly taking the
cap off the pencil, holding it with one hand, erasing
(notice the tiny little eraser), and pushing the cap
back on. When you push the cap back on it will
cause the pencil lead to advance one step out of
the pencil. You will have to play with the pencil to
get the lead back in. Eventually, you will lose the
cap. Why does this pencil have a cap? Apparently,
people thought it looked better with a cap; cleaner
lines; no unsightly eraser to remind you of your
errors.
• The pencil below doesn't have these problems. It
doesn't have a cap. It has a nice big eraser and the
lead is not advanced by pressing on the eraser.
Instead, there is a lead advance button just above
where I hold the pencil when writing. (Although,
this may be a problem for people who grip the
pencil higher up the barrel than I do!)
• Design suggestion
• Don't add an extra step to a task for the sake of
aesthetics. Don't have the same action (pushing on
the cap) do two different things: attaching the cap,
and advancing the lead.

5. Which side has the gas cap?
• Which side has the gas cap?
• Every time we go to the gas station we have to remember
which side of the car the gas cap is on so we know which side
of the gas pump to pull up to. This seems to be more difficult
than necessary to remember. This picture shows why. The gas
cap is on the right side of one of our cars and on the left side
of the other. No wonder it is hard to remember! Design
suggestion
• Sometimes standards are nice to have. It doesn't seem like it
would matter much which side to put gas caps on cars, but it
would be nice if they were always on the same side. A
standard place for gas caps would make it much easier to
remember.
Readers' comments
• Many people had comments on this example. Thanks to all!
Here are some representative comments: The problem with
gas caps being on different sides of the car may cause
problems, but it means that typically more cars can fill up at
the gas station at the same time. Some can go on the left side
of the gas pump... some go on the right. -CS On my truck,
there is an arrow pointing to the side where the gas cap is,
the arrow is located right beside the fuel level gauge. -BD
• Of course, the gas cap should always be on the side of the
driver... -SG
• Jaguar cars, and some other expensive makes, have two filler
caps (to the same tank, I believe) so it doesn't matter which
side you fill up on. -DH

7. Plates of same price, which one is
preferable to buy and why?

8. Front view of spoons Back view of spoons

9. Pooja: Which one is preferable to buy
and why?

11. Air Freshener-Gel

12. Door Mats
Washable, Anti skid back, unfolding edges, durable, easy to
clean, smooth for feet, removes dirt of the feet.
Washable, unfolding edges, durable, easy to clean,
comparatively less smooth for feet
Washable, durable, easy to clean, smooth for feet, removes
dirt of the feet.
Not Washable, durable, comparatively less easy to clean,
smooth for feet, removes dirt of the feet not any wetness.

13. Water bottle

14. Lights with different features, almost
with same price
1. Rechargeable, multi-use (Reading lamp, Torch light)
2. 3 Cell torch
3. 2 cell torch

15. Rechargeable Reading Lamp

16. Music Box, which is preferred?
1. Tape recorder, radio
2. Battery option available, don’t have
power backup facility
1. MP3 player/ Radio
2. Power backup option is available, Batteries
also can be used. Memory card and USB
connect options are available.

17. Tools
1. Multi purpose tool kit for small electronic
equipment
2. Single purpose Star head driver

18. Cosmetics: Usability and hygiene

19. Covered Soft toys, easy to clean
and long life

20. Cleaning items

21. Which one is preferable and why?

23. Air Freshener- Liquid

25. First Aid box

26. Tape Dispenser

27. Pressure Cooker

28. Fruit Juice packages
Fruit juice packing
in Ziplock covers
Fruit juice packing
in plastic glasses
Fruit juice packing
in box.

29. Mobile-Memory Card Slot