I question the functionality

I saw this green beauty in the Wal Mart parking lot the other day. I had to laugh! It's not that I'm against cool cars. I struggle to understand how the 'improvements' made it function better.
I saw this bad boy a couple months ago. I think the rims are worth more than the car itself. Does lifting the car make it drive better? Or does it get better gas mileage as a result? If anyone has any answers, I would love to hear them.

At the Lake

While the lake is beautiful at a distance, it is the close up that tells the real story.

My Paper Towel Addiction

I'm addicted to paper towels. As a mom, I justify buying the super mega packs of paper towels because of the ease and convenience they bring. I know we could use cloth towels instead, but I dread how many towels my kids will go through in a single day. I already have enough laundry!! But, I still feel guilty every time I buy them because I know how many trees I'm wasting. (wiki.answers.com says it takes 1-2 trees to make a single paper towel roll!)
Finally, a product that I can justify buying. Check out www.seventhgeneration.com for more great products.

Impact

I took this photo at a local nature park. It reminds me that so many people design or build for today without thinking of the impact it will have on the future, the environment, or their surroundings.

Design

Design is not just a logo or poster. Design is all around us, both good and bad. It affects the way we live. You can see it in a parking lot. You see it on your washing machine. You see it at a traffic stop. You see it in a menu. Attention to detail is a key factor in creating good design. Good design allows us to live better, easier, and more efficiently.

So, what does "Universatile Design" mean? Well, versatile means to be adaptable to many different functions and activities. According to wikipedia, universal design strives to be a broad-spectrum solution that produces buildings, products, and environments that are usable and effective for everyone. So, put the two together and you have universatile design: design that is adaptable to our many different walks of life and usable and effective for just about everyone.

This blog is about the stuff we encounter on a day to day basis and to pointing out both good and bad design in our everyday lives. Your comments and thoughts are welcome!