Broadly speaking, we feel like there are three types of people when it comes to shoes. The first enjoy functionality and comfort. If their shoes do what they’re supposed to do (i.e. keep their feet warm, cool, dry, and don’t slip on the ice, depending on where they’re going), they’re perfectly happy!
Meanwhile, others want a good mix of function and form. Not only do the shoes have to do what they’re designed for, they also have to look good. Aesthetics are important, after all. And whether we want to admit it or not, we want to leave a positive impression on our friends, coworkers, family members, and even complete strangers. It’s great to be thought of as stylish.
Finally, we have true fashion lovers who embrace the form of the item of clothing at the expense of its functionality. What this means, in short, is that they enjoy how their shoes look and what impact they have on everyone else to the extent that they’re willing to sacrifice comfort. Think—high heels.
However, for some stylish Pandas, a trendy pair of heels or a bespoke pair of formal dress shoes aren’t enough. So they push the limits of taste and play around with interesting and unique shoe designs. Some of them work perfectly. Others end up being featured on the ‘Awful Taste But Great Execution’ subreddit.
Just because something is expensive and expertly crafted doesn’t automatically mean that it’s objectively tasteful. It can, however, be a way to have fun, relax, and start a discussion. If you want to stand out, you have to be willing to take fashion risks. Of course, not all of them will pay off, but you’re likely to cause a buzz either way.
Similarly, clothing designers also want to push the limits of what’s acceptable and stylish. Pretty much everyone wants to be known for quality work and for starting global trends. So it’s not surprising that some creators experiment with the line between good and bad taste.
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Naturally, some designs fall short of the public’s expectations. However, others can be surprise hits. And it’s not always apparent what will work and what will fail until your clothes are out there, in the wide world, being worn and criticized and analyzed by other designers.
Good design will, inevitably, be about finding a balance between the creator’s vision for the product, as well as what the consumer values. Quality design is all about empathizing with the buyer.
That means that it’s best to make the product functional, user-friendly, and visually pleasing. Overly-complex, over-designed pieces might look great in a gallery or on the runway but might not appeal to the average person.
If an expert is left to create whatever they want, with no interaction with the outside world, their designs might be more akin to art than actual functional products.
Meanwhile, if the creator listens solely to what the market wants, they might be left creating generic, boring, and ‘safe’ designs that likely won’t stand out from the crowd. Balance is imperative!
