The Evolution Of Useful Things by Henry Petroski
How Everyday Artifacts—from Forks and Pins to Paper Clips and Zippers—Came to Be as They Are
An engaging exploration of how everyday objects evolve through trial, error, and incremental improvement, arguing that form often follows failure as much as function. Using case studies of familiar items—from forks and paper clips to zippers and beverage cans—it reveals how user needs, manufacturing constraints, patents, and cultural preferences shape design over time. The result is a portrait of innovation as a messy, cumulative process in which dissatisfaction and accidents help spur the next useful thing.
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- Published
- 1992
- Nationality
- American
- Length
- Medium
- Pages
- 288–320
- Original Language
- English
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