Reflection on Critical Essay

As discussed beforehand, I have recently completed a critical essay entitles “Why I Design”. This essay discussed my reasons for studying design, as well as discussing the principles ‘Form follows function’ and ‘Inclusive Design’, which I hold in high interest and are two of the reasons why I design.
I feel as if the essay was a step up to this digital journal, as in the critical essay I discussed the two principles as reasons as to why I design, whilst in this journal I discussed how those same two principles were reasons as to how I design.
In the essay, I held these principles as points of interest; however I did not show how I had used these principles. I feel that the critical essay was an important point for me in terms of design, because it made me think about why I enjoy design and why it interests me.
In the essay, I gave one of the reason I design (in terms of the form follows function principle) as “I want to see this evolution in design - integrating mechanical and electrical technology with aesthetics - to progress further, until there is no ‘either/or’ debate between the two; until they simply exist together, a product working effectively whilst still looking and feeling good to the user.”
It is now, after thinking more about the principle that I realise that there probably never will be a perfectly equal coexistence, however I still stand by my reason, as I think to design to the best of my ability, I must strive to get as close as possible. Not in some Don Quixote-esque dream world, but so I can find my design limitations, and see how close I can get, to the perfect design.
In terms of the inclusive design principle, I gave my reason as “The user is also another reason I design, as the emphasis on inclusive design in the last decade has highlighted the need for products to be simpler and more intuitive to use.”
This however has not changed at all. I still see a very big need for simplified products, especially in the domestic appliance market. Personally I think this reasoning will be the basis of my design philosophy as I grow and experience more of the design world.
Although I still do not have a design philosophy, the recent work in this module has shown me that these two principles should be the basis for my design work, as I will constantly ask myself how my designs relate to the principles discussed above.