SR-71 BlackBird

The SR-71 Blackbird is the fastest manned airplane in the world, and it is retired.

A project of Lockheed's Skunk Works, in the 1960's, the SR-71 was designed to be used as a reconnaissance aircraft. It had to be able to fly over enemy territory and not be detected or shot down. The Blackbird did this better than any other plane since, that is declassified.

The Blackbird set altitude and speed records that still stand. Made to go Mach 3 at an altitude of over 80,000 feet the planes was untouchable by any aerial vehicle of its time. It even outran Russian missiles.

The Blackbird used technologies that are, even today, not widely implemented or even completely developed. Its two engines were a combination of ramjet and turbojet. This allowed it to take off like a normal airplane but then remain efficient at high Mach speeds, almost like a rocket.

Its shell was made entirely of titanium, which was obtained from Russia by the CIA. The shell was unique for a number of reasons. One, it was incredibly difficult to manufacture parts from titanium at the time. And, it was designed to expand with the heat that built up in it from air friction. SR-71's were know to be leaking fuel at takeoff but would stop once everything warmed up and closed the gaps. It was literally a plane that needed to be in the air.

Another very unique aspect of the Blackbird are the chines that run along its nose to the wings. This wasn't original. It was added after several prototypes. Chines were really multi-functional. They reduced the radar cross section, they improved lift, and they improved mobility. But not all of those benefits were know until the chines were added to the plane.

The SR-71 also had stealth technology implemented which was still highly experimental. Things such as radar absorbing materials and appropriate geometries. But it was realized that that wasn't even sufficient to keep the Blackbird hidden, making its speed absolutely necessary.

The SR-71 is a testament to being able to accomplish something that should be impossible. The techniques and technology that the Skunk Works used to create it were decades ahead of their time. But the SR-71 is also an example of very careful and imaginative problem solving. The engineers, like Kelly Johnson,  who created it, weighed risk and reward perfectly and were able to create a superplane that has not been matched in performance, and some technology, since. (at least as far as the public knows)

Legos

What toy has theme parks and a movie based on it? Legos! The plastic blocks that people have used to create sculptures ranging in complexity from a kids Lego house, to an exact replica of a Star Wars X-Wing.

Originally designed in 1939 and first manufactured in 1949, Lego Automatic Binding Bricks were one of the first plastic toy sets to ever be accepted on a large scale

Legos have now become one of the toys that just about everyone has played with in their life. The colorful blocks' ability to reform into almost anything you can think of has made them a staple for young kids and adults to let the imagination flow.

In a world where customization had become the norm its amazing to think that Legos were really one of the first products to ever allow for completely personal customization. The ability to put dragon wings on a car had and has a draw that each of us can recognize. They are really like the app store of toys.

Another way to look at the design of Legos, that separates them from the other building sets, like Erector or Tinker Toys, it that Legos were almost 3-D printing before 3-D printing. You are able to make solid structures and sculptures of just about anything using just the simple blocks. And, while it does take some skill to create complex things, it is no more difficult than learning to use a CAD program.

Lego's also have a unique characteristic from a business perspective. With just a few simple components the Lego Kit designers were able to continually create new kits for those that don't enjoy the creating new things. The blocks basically created a foundation that the company has been able to build off of (word play) since the toys were created. The company never has to create completely new components, though they do, they just have to have new instruction books printed with a set of the blocks.

But with all of those advantages the true secret sauce of the toys is their ability to adapt with the user. An adult can get just as much joy and challenge from a set of the bricks as a preschooler can. The bricks can create as simple or as complex of creations as you want. Legos are a toy that is timeless, because their inherent modularity lets them morph and grow with the user as no other toy or kit has been able to do.

The Zippo Lighter

The Zippo lighter is an icon. But how did it become that? Simply because it has so many characteristics that separate it from the normal lighter. A perfect combination of form and function. Whether you smoke or not, the Zippo is a design to respect.

Let's start with the experience. When you use a Zippo you hold the smooth, metal rectangle in you hand. It shines and feels rugged and sturdy. When you flip the cap you get the signature "Clink" sound that is unique to Zippo lighters. Then when you light it, the flame comes from the silvered chimney and can't be blown out by the wind. You light your cigarette and then, "Clink" it's closed and you slip the sleek box back into your pocket.

The Zippo is a sensory experience. The look and the feel make it seem valuable to the user and the "Clink" sound makes it have a personality apart from the average lighter. In fact, it was that "Clink" that helped to build the brand of the Zippo back when it was created in 1933. A Zippo was a piece of fashion that drew attention to itself.

But the Zippo is also incredibly practical. Because of its means of creating a flame and protecting it, (i.e. a wick and the special chimney) it is the best option available. The function is as good as the form.

The Zippo is one of those few designs that is so complete that it is difficult to find fault with any of it. It is a piece of style as well as an effective tool. If Apple where to make a lighter they would make the Zippo.

The Golf Ball

With an evolution stretching over 600 years the golf ball is one of the oldest sports spheres in existence.

Golf balls themselves are naturally attractive. They have a shiny exterior and come in any number of colors. They remind one of jewels or Easter eggs. But the balls are also very technical. The dimples on the surface serve to decrease aerodynamic drag and were first introduced in 1905 when the inventor noticed that golfers were intentionally roughening their balls to gain distance. The rubber interior of the ball is also a very sensitive bit of design. Each manufacturer has their own mixture that is meant to create the ideal amount of weight and rebound from a club strike.

No matter how one feels about the game itself, the ball used is one of the most fascinating in sports. Not only is it a jewel to behold but a golf ball also contains some engineering that is on par (pun intended) with complex machines such as aircraft and cars.

The Dirigible

The dirigible is one of the coolest aircraft that has ever been created. Think about it. With little to no effort or energy expended they can lift thousands of pounds into the air and hover, admittedly on a calm day. They are really the closest thing, that exists, to antigravity. And amazingly, Lighter-than-Air craft were the first things to ever carry man into the sky

True, dirigibles are rarely used anymore because they are just large bubbles that are subject to any number of limitations. They can be blown around in a storm. They are kind of delicate. And they have a very small payload for their size. But when one realizes that they also have many advantages, their possibilities appear again. They are relatively cheap and easy to maintain and operate as opposed to helicopters or planes. As aircraft go, they are pretty safe. And they are very comfortable to ride in, much like an aerial cruise.

The dirigible has been forgotten because of its limitations. But its abilities make it a very viable transporter for developing nations without roads or landing strips. And it could again become a cruise liner, as they were in their heyday, for those that aren't in a hurry.

Chess

Chess. The Game of Kings. The game that has more combinations than there are atoms in the universe.

Chess is a game that has more personality to it than any other game. The pieces can be created as any kind of figures to match the preferences of the player. Robots, dragons, nuts and bolts. The players also literally put themselves into the game as the play. When a game of chess is going on, one can literally see what kind of people the players are based on how they command their troops on the board.

But the variety in chess is its truly defining value. No game is exactly the same or ever will be. The abilities of the pieces and the layout of the board allow for this. Not many games are able to have nearly infinite variation as chess does. Given that the game was developed in the 15th Century and uses no computers to help change it up, this is very impressive.

But the classical chess board has also become a piece of decoration due to its appearance. The glossy wood of the pieces sitting on the checkered board is a beautiful addition to many rooms. This certainly isn't inherently true of Monopoly or cards.

One drawback that Chess has is its difficulty to learn. Nuances in the game can confuse a beginner even before they start to compete. Chess could be improved if its pieces were simplified somewhat, but not to the extent of checkers. But of course this simplification would take away from the complex beauty of the board and its many pieces.

But overall, Chess is one of those few nearly perfect games. It is beautiful to look at. Challenging every time. (with appropriate opponents) Always good for the brain. And is never the same game twice. It is a game that can be as complex as the minds that play it.

The Paperclip

The paperclip is always used as an example of great design. The paperclip is such an icon because since the creation of the standard paperclip the design has never changed. Why has it never changed? Because there hasn't been anything better created to temporarily hold a few sheets of paper together. Very few products can boast of that. To never have been changed for more than fifty years.

The paperclip has a elegance in its design that makes it transcend its simple purpose. Again, curves, the simple silver finish, no moving parts. Just a wire formed that very easily clasps the paper it is meant to hold. In this way the paperclip is almost romantic in its simplicity and elegance.

The Computer Mouse

The computer mouse. This device is what allowed computers to be usable by the average person. Without the mouse there would be no graphical user interface (GUI), and without a GUI there would be no personal computers as we know them today.

Certainly with the advent of touch and other interaction technologies the mouse is quickly being usurped as the main interaction tool for the personal computer. But it still defined the way that computers could be be made reachable. You move something in the real world and that moves something in the digital world. The mouse bridged the gap between computers and humans. It was the translator between two different languages. Before, a person had to speak computer in order to communicate with it. The mouse brought about natural sign language as a means to talk to computers.

And, of course, aesthetically  the mouse is not repulsive. A person looks at a mouse and they are not intimidated by it. It very naturally portrays its purpose, both before and while using it. Not to mention the fact that the curves of modern mice make them comfortable to hold and almost cute to look at.

The mouse is the central hardware feature that made graphical interfaces possible. Without it the computer industry would not have gained the acceptance that it did.

The Electric Light Bulb

What site dedicated to design could leave out the electric light bulb. This device fundamentally

changed the way we live our life.

When Edison started down the road to creating the light-bulb he had one thought in mind. A cheap and a safe way to provide light. The lamps that were used at the time were dirty, expensive to fuel, and

caused the destruction of property on a regular basis.

The light bulb was a nearly perfect solution. It was cheap, and produced a smooth consistent light. The infrastructure was also easier to install than gas. Wires are far more durable than pipes and less prone to explosions or leaks. 

And as far as asthetics, the lightbulb is almost spherical. (the world's favorite shape) Plus imagine the experience that is offered. By flipping a switch some mysterious force made light come into the room. It was akin the telephone. No one could really understand it. So it was an amazing thing to own at the time because it was magical.

Few products have been as perfect as the light bulb. When you think about it it is the perfect product. Cheap, easy to use, well shaped, and offering an experience that nothing else in the world can and has a twist that people can't comprehend. And setting a standard for over and hundred years ans still going.