Thursday, November 11, 2010

Learn a concept...see it everywhere

The other day I happened upon an interesting new word: "skeuomorph"
A skeuomorph, pronounced /ˈskjuːəmɔrf/ SKEW-ə-morf, or skeuomorphism (Greek: skeuos—vessel or tool, morphe—shape)[1] is a derivative object which retains ornamental design cues to a structure that was necessary in the original.[2] Skeuomorphs may be deliberately employed to make the new look comfortably old and familiar,[3] such as copper cladding on zinc pennies or computer printed postage with circular town name and cancellation lines.
Now I see skeuomorphs everywhere! But my new cheesy over the-top favourite was found in a flyer today...this disturbing bit of retro-80s paraphernalia:

(from Innovative Technologies) The whole thing is a mass of skeuomorphic over-design. Although, I must admit, the iWhatever that's inserted into the 'tape' deck looks lovely and spacey.

Lori