Johannes Prechtl

I applied my mind to how my final submission might look, to which direction it might take. This also involved my endeavouring to take a closer look at door handles. I became aware during the course of this of how different lever handles can be.

Their various haptic qualities differed greatly and hence also how it felt to operate them. I accordingly went about looking for several objects with a view to feeling out their haptic qualities. I then went in search of an object I could modify and perhaps even improve upon with the aid of Otl Aicher’s pronouncements. At some point in my deliberations I suddenly realised what I was holding in my hand: a computer mouse.

So I proceeded to study the shapes and structures of computer mouses. I experimented around a bit with plasticine. I modelled a mouse that fitted snugly in my hand. I then attempted to change the angling of the mouse. I added a kind of stand to the mouse to this end so as to be able to rotate and elevate it. I now had my definitive shape. Then I roughly sketched the shape to get an idea of the structure. Last but not least, I created renderings with Cinema 4D to visualize mine.

Otl Aicher’s “Four Point Guide to Good Grip” posits a thumbrest, a forefinger furrow, support for the palm and gripping volume. Though he was actually referring to door lever handles, his guide can be seen to apply to a great many functional objects. He argued that our minds only begin to grasp once our hands have done so. We are able to wrap our brains round something because our hands do so first. I would like to reverse this by enabling our hands to make thoughts and ideas become real. We designers and fashioners are classic examples of people compelled to sit in front of computers. We can articulate ourselves by drafting ground-plans, images and portrayals of all kinds. This is how we tap our potential and communicate it to others.

Rendering such ideas possible nevertheless involves our adopting unnatural postures. We spend the whole day sitting down in a way that is bad not only for our muscular apparatus and in particular our backs, but also for our hands and forearms. This is something you only realise by analysing and thinking about the matter. Here’s a little experiment. Place one hand on your desk and pretend you are holding a computer mouse. Now turn your hand outwards through 90 degrees so it assumes the position it does when you let your arm dangle down by your side, i.e. in line with your body. It’s immediately possible to feel your forearm being relieved of pressure and hence your comfort levels rising.

This is why I opted for a computer mouse. I would like to apply Otl Aicher’s thinking to this device with a view to relieving the strain to which the user is subjected when operating it. Only in the disencumbered state, after all, can a person’s creativity come fully into its own. I have accordingly adapted the “Four Point Guide to Good Grip” to the mouse to read thumbrest, forefinger furrow, intuition and relief. I chose wood and lacquered metal as my materials. I find the optical and haptic qualities of wood unique, plus: the fact that, unlike plastic, wood occurs naturally is likewise a crucial factor.

I have to say that I really liked the WPFM around Otl Aicher and FSB. This made me really aware of how you can perceive your environment with your hands and touch and what kind of feeling came to mind. It was exciting to deal with Otl Aicher because he really understood what he was doing and was able to break it down to a minimum.

It was super exciting to be able to be there at FSB to get an insight into how everyday objects such as door handles are designed and manufactured. Working on an object itself, the design and implementation were also a lot of fun. I am an interior designer myself, so I tried my hand at product design. I like his way of thinking and theses.

That was something special and extremely expanding. I hope to be able to participate in the second part of the Otl Aicher WPFM in the summer semester in order to design a real prototype that really works.