what are your industrial design favorites?

[rdenney]

I wanted to post something from the 80s into this thread, but I really have a hard time thinking of a product from that era that had a particularly timeless design. Sure we had the Walkmans, Atari's, Nintendos, etc... but if I am being honest... they're all a bit homely. The only two products that sprang to mind were the

ZXSpectrum computer

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And the Swatch Watch

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Anyone else for great 80s design examples?

For the ‘80’s, this was the IT watch: the Ebel Sport Classic Chronograph. Zenith El Primero movement, 36,000 beats/hour, about 40% more expensive that the comparable Rolex Daytona at the time. The ultimate 80’s watch. Frank Dernie has one from the same year, but his is waaaay cooler than mine because of how it came to him.

Rick “a great example of classic-meets-innovative design” Denney

 

[rdenney]

Sticking with things I have owned or still own:

The 1984 Audi 5000 (I followed that up with an ‘87):

(Photo from web)

1973 GMC Motor Home. Still the only motor home built by a Big Three carmaker entirely in their own factory and entirely by their own design. Front-wheel-drive from the Olds Toronado/Cadillac Eldorado of the day.

As it should look (mine is a work in progress, this one is in the GMC Heritage Fleet):

And cameras were brought up. Here is my favorite portable camera for sheer functional and beautiful design (no, I am not a minimalist):

And my beloved Sinar P view camera:

This is a gear-driven advance on the astounding modular Sinar Norma, which is probably a better example of beautiful industrial design, but I don’t own one.

Rick “a pleasure to use as well as look at” Denney

 

[Pennyless Audiophile]

I have these beauties in my reception room

 

[suttondesign]

 

[Wes]

 

[digicidal]

Not sure if cars counts here, but....

Of course they do, and Koenigsegg has some remarkable designs! The automotive industry as a whole is an obvious and tangible demonstration of the constant struggle to improve both the practical and the aesthetic aspects of a product. Although that industry is also becoming a demonstration of how focusing too much on safety, efficiency, economy, and convenience - results in ubiquitous designs with very little beauty to be found.

But then again... millions of SUV fans might see that differently, I suppose?

 

[Sal1950]

OH MAN, how I always loved those toploaders. Don't remember ever seeing this one before, any idea on the model number?
EDIT, never mind, a little googling nailed it. Yamaha GT-CD1

 

[Frank Dernie]

OH MAN, how I always loved those toploaders.

Me too!
I have owned some and the big problem is most of them seem to rely on the user to put a clamp on the CD before they play it.
Some people absentmindedly forget. Don't ask me how I know...
My daily user is top load but has the disc clamp carried by the lid, so I don't need to remember any more. It is 25 years old now.

 

[Sal1950]

My daily user is top load but has the disc clamp carried by the lid,

Which model?

 

[Frank Dernie]

Which model?

It is a Goldmund Mimesis 36+
Old, anomalous, heavy and not made for a long time! I originally used it with a Spectral DAC, then a cosmetically matching Goldmund one now it feeds my Devialet amplifier directly.
It has the original Philips swing arm laser pickup assembly.

 

[Xombul]

 

[fredoamigo]

 

[VintageFlanker]

View attachment 123332

 

[voodooless]

Some vintage (and a bit less vintage) stuff from the home collection:

 

[Sal1950]

View attachment 123332

Damn that's one incredibly sweet machine, do you have one?

 

[fredoamigo]

Damn that's one incredibly sweet machine, do you have one?

Brough Superior is a mythical English mark which was repurchased by French...this model there is sold 66,000 Euros thus the possibility of seeing them is rare.
https://www.broughsuperiormotorcycles.com/fr/

 

[Sal1950]

View attachment 123333View attachment 123334View attachment 123336

Awesome Ducati! V-Twin bikes rule for sure.
I bought a Ducati 900 Monster new in 1994, loved it till it tried to kill me by going into a 100+ mph tank slapper, I have no idea how I survived it that day. Sold it for a new 98 1200 Buell Cyclone. My last ride was a 2006 Harley V-Rod that we did some very nasty engine work on. Here's a clip of the day I got it out of the crate. Had to give up the hot rod bikes when my back went south on me a few years back, Really sucks to get old.

 

[Sal1950]

Brough Superior is a mythical English mark which was repurchased by French...this model there is sold 66,000 Euros thus the possibility of seeing them is rare.
https://www.broughsuperiormotorcycles.com/fr/

Yea, I know all about it.
But there are quite a few people here with some very serious coin in their pockets.

 

[carlob]

 

[simbloke]

Seen this a couple of times in the local M&S car park. I'm no expert but I think it's the real thing.