Apple iMac 2021: Industrial Design Analysis

Подробнее о видео

So at first glance, I really didn’t see much that’s especially interesting about the new Apple iMac. In fact, I wasn’t even going to do an industrial design analysis of it because I didn’t think there was anything to talk about. It’s like, alright, great. Another nondescript thin rectangle. But I think I was missing the big picture. I think Apple’s industrial design team did this very intentionally, and I think it ties into one of the most famous design principles from Dieter Rams, “good design is as little design as possible”.
Now, we could talk about all of the painstakingly considered details of this design, but I think it would be missing the point. As a user, Apple doesn’t want you to focus on the device. They do this by using very simple, elemental shapes. There is absolutely nothing that stands out about this design if you look at the silhouette. It’s a rectangle. The fact that everyone is freaking out about this “chin” down here is actually proof of that. In what other product would people be freaking out about a flat, nondescript planar surface? I think people fixate on it because it’s pretty much the only thing to focus on besides the giant screen.

Enroll in my online industrial design course, Form Fundamentals: Learn visual storytelling, design language, and form. Make a killer portfolio and land your dream job:

Join my mailing list to get notified of special announcements:
Join my discord channel and talk to me:
Follow me on Instagram:
Follow me on LinkedIn:
Check out my Behance:

Want to learn more about my work? Check out my portfolio:
Want to work with me on a design project? Contact me here:

John Mauriello has been working professionally as an industrial designer since 2010. He is an Adjunct Professor of industrial design at California College of the Arts.