When I was asked to find an example of a design that dealt with the passed or the past, I thought of an object that has long been a record of each moment in our lives and a major part of the industrial design field. “Camera” was the invention which allowed us to record time, history, and our lives. I believe that the acknowledgement of how the cameras’ designs have evolved throughout time is truly essential for industrial designers because it shows the development in not only our manufacturing techniques and choice of materials, but also in our lifestyle and our perspective on ‘what defines a good design’.The very first photographic image was taken by Joseph Nicephore Niepce in 1814 France. He left the shutter of his “Camera Obscura” open for eight hours in order to do so, but the image soon dissolved away. In this rough stage of the invention, there was almost zero concern on the external look of the camera. In 1837, the first fixed image was taken by Louis Jacques Mande Daguerre’s “Daguerreotype,” which only required less than thirty minutes of light exposure. The overall form remained simple and box-like, consisting of straight edges and right angles, while the wood grain texture on the camera’s surface gave a luxurious look. The first mass-marketed camera:"the Brownie" was produced in 1900. A sleek use of black leather on the outer surface of the camera provided more of a professional appearance and an emphasis on portability through its choice of highly durable material. In 1973, Polaroid SX-70, a folding single lens reflex Land Camera, introduced one-step instant photo. SX-70 was notable for its first use of integral print film which developed on its own without the involvement of a person, and its elegant folding design which collapsed into a compact size just enough to fit a man’s suit-jacket pocket. Later in 1976, the first digital camera “Circa” was produced by Kodak. It weighed 8 pounds, and produced black and white images with a resolution of .01 megapixels, in 23 seconds of recording time. The design as a whole appeared rather like a combination of technological requirements and challenges the first digital camera had yet unresolved. First digital electronic still video camera (RC-701) was manufactured by Canon in 1984. The size of a camera became noticeably smaller to reduce weight and fit the user’s hand more comfortably, with various ergonomic concerns in the overall form. The use of black polycarbonate as its material offered higher durability to the camera, and gave a professional and casual feeling at the same time.
These revolutionary changes in design and technology throughout history allowed cameras to gradually become a major part of our daily lives with various uses: for one’s profession, hobby, record, identification, etc., as a tool which deals with the passed, the past, and the present.
Reference Links:
- Wikipedia: History of the Camera (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_camera)
- Historical Timeline of the Camera(http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/01824/thehistory.htm)
- Christopher Haslego, History of the Camera, March 06, 2005 (http://ezinearticles.com/?History-of-the-Camera&id=18736)
- About.com: Photography Timeline(http://inventors.about.com/od/pstartinventions/a/Photography.htm)
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