Can bad design be a great problem?

 What is more valuable: innovative technology or convenience of use and durability? I may say the latter, though companies are usually neglecting this fact. We can see some strange and completely unacceptable devices pretty often, trying to enter the market and conquer the customer. Fortunately, people are relying on some feedback from testers and rarely do get caught surprised, for example with the Samsung Galaxy fold series after a day of use. I explore the market and choose the best suitable for me with an acceptable price, but I’m not sure that others have the same attitude which can lead to disappointment.

Today, I will talk about the situation with the sensational design from Puma a couple of years ago. A pair of designer trainers have sparked a wave of controversy after the shoe design was said to bear an uncanny resemblance to Adolf Hitler.

The toe and tongue of the Puma 'Storm Adrenaline' shoes, which retail for £75 in the UK or $44.99 in the US, have been likened to the slicked hairdo and mustache of the Nazi dictator. It's a coincidence that has created a surge of interest on social media, with one user declaring the shoes are an 'eight out of 10 on the Hitler scale. Among the comments circulating on the networks, many users have recalled that the company founded by brothers Rudolf Dassler and Adolf “Adi” Dassler (who later created Adidas), supported the Nazi regime and they were members of the German National Socialist Party.

On the controversy, some devices can benefit users not only with convenience or their functionality but in health issues.

For example, Google's incredibly futuristic, and potentially life-changing, smart contact lens has taken a step towards breaking out of the concept stage after a patent was awarded that seemingly paves the way for the device to become a real-life product. Google's clever contact lens is just a prototype for now, but it could eventually save lives. It uses miniature sensors and a radio antenna thinner than human hair to track a wearer's blood glucose levels. It could be especially useful for diabetics, as, using an app on their smartphones, they could monitor their glucose levels in real-time, making sure that they don't drop below a certain level. Google struck a deal with drug maker Novartis in July 2014 to help make the lens. "We are looking forward to working with Google to bring together their advanced technology and our extensive knowledge of biology to meet unmet medical needs," said Novartis CEO Joseph Jimenez at the time. "This is a key step for us to go beyond the confines of traditional disease management, starting with the eye."

So, to conclude bad design or usability can happen not only to small companies, who do not have enough experience and resources to create a good product. Such large influencers of the clothes industry can also have lots of problems with their reputation and receive even a boycott.