Products Influencing Behaviors
I came across this urinal the other day at Huddart Park in Woodside, CA. I don’t have high expectations for public restrooms, so imagine my surprise when I came across this little gem, clearly designed with so much thought and humor. Did they anticipate the bolts would rust to bring out the eyes? It’s a great example of designing for the full complexity of behavior rather than just its functional attributes.
By inserting humor into the object, they’ve managed to craft a banal experience into a little moment delight. They did it by solving not just the what the object does, but how it does it. And it is the how that separates this product from all of the others out there. (Trust me, I’ve used a lot of urinals in my life, and I’ve never been tickled enough to photograph one.)
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4 Comments
Oh please, that’s way too subtle. You want this:
http://www.outnext.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/08/18/mouth_urinal_188801.jpg
While I’d like to agree with you that someone thought that through and did it on purpose, I’m going with the theory that it’s a pleasant accident. I’d be willing to put five bucks on the table that toilet makers, at least at that point in time, weren’t in business for their sense of humor.
Good find though!
Urinating into a mouth?
… what a nice little “moment of delight.”
Thanks for the comments. I’d wager a San Francisco Burrito (travel not included) that this was an intentional act of design. Sure, I don’t think toilet makers were known for their sense of humor, but whenever I work with form or visual design, I’m always looking for ways (however subtle) to connect to people’s larger associations. A side of guacamole to anyone who can track down this designer.
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