The death of industrial design and the era of dull electronics

Is industrial design really “dead”?

• Several commenters argue design isn’t dead; it’s moved to indie and niche makers, which are harder to notice amid “too many players” and a missing “middle class” of brands.
• Others say many modern devices are intentionally unobtrusive: people want thin, space-saving screens, not sculptural monitors or TVs.

Nostalgia, product lifecycles, and corporate capitalism

• Multiple replies see the article as nostalgia: the “peak” conveniently coincides with readers’ youth.
• They argue the 90s/2000s were just an earlier lifecycle stage: a Cambrian explosion of form factors before convergence on a few mature designs.
• Some push back on framing older eras as less corporate; past icons (Walkman, colorful iMacs) were also products of big profit-driven companies.
• What people really miss, according to one view, is the feeling that new products could still surprise them.

Slabs, function, and the “dominant design”

• Many defend “boring” slabs as the outcome of usability and economics: fewer moving parts, maximum flexibility for software, minimal cognitive load.
• Phones, PCs, and TVs are likened to books or nails: once the basic form is right, variation becomes counterproductive.
• The concept of “dominant design” is raised: internet-enabled markets converge faster on one winning pattern, making everything feel more samey.

Cars and homogenization

• Strong debate over why cars look alike:
  • One side cites aerodynamics, safety, fuel regulations, and cost optimization.
  • Another says it’s primarily market and profit—design risk is minimized, colors converge on grayscale, and SUVs/crossovers are pushed because they’re lucrative.
• Some lament loss of “soul” compared to older muscle cars; others say most buyers prioritize safety, efficiency, reliability, and anonymity over character.

Ornamentation, craft, and boutique exceptions

• Several distinguish industrial design from ornamentation; modern minimalism is seen as a century‑long trend away from decorative flourishes.
• Others mourn the loss of craft, rich detailing in buildings and machines, and argue cost-cutting and weak consumer pushback have hollowed design.
• Niche makers (Teenage Engineering, Nothing, boutique synths, cassette players, stylish monitors, Framework Desktop, cyberdecks) are cited as proof interesting design persists—just at higher prices and in smaller markets.

Status, cost, and consumer priorities

• Apple devices spark a tangent:
  • Some say the logo is still a status marker, especially outside rich countries; others see Apple as mainstream “workhorse” gear.
  • Disagreements arise over pricing, repairability, accessory bundling, and whether status or practicality drives purchases.
• A recurring theme: many people simply want reliable, cheap, generic tools; expressive design is now a niche preference, not a mass requirement.