14 DAY TRIAL // To entice people to buy Hartmut Esslinger’s new book on Apple “Keep it Simple,” publisher Arnoldsche has released a set of Apple designs featured in the book. You’ll be amazed to learn that neither of these materialized, for a variety of reasons.
According to the description by Arnoldsche, “‘Keep it Simple’ introduces the success story of Apple from the viewpoint of Hartmut Esslinger, who as an external designer in close collaboration with Steve Jobs was essentially responsible for the design of Apple products. His authentic perspective dispels many a myth – a must for all Apple enthusiasts.”
Steve Jobs was a man with great taste for design, and Esslinger knew how to deliver just that. Looking at these designs, you’re probably wondering “how on earth did Apple find this unacceptable?” After all, some of these items would look good on a desk even today.
Well, the reality is that not everything that looks good also proves functional. Take for instance that drawing tablet with the awkward looking pen. It looks like something from Star Trek, and it even looks usable, but you won’t know if the shape of that stylus works well until you hold it.
The same goes for the watch + headset idea. While the technology for something like this didn’t even exist at the time, nothing stopped Esslinger from dreaming. The only problem was Apple had bigger fish to fry, and the next thing you know, touch-screens have replaced physical buttons.
Images courtesy of Arnoldsche and ufunk.net.
