Before the Ambiguity

The objects that we now use to connect to the world, phones, televisions and tablets are glassy and reflective, becoming smaller and lighter whilst being functionally less revealing. As we move towards a world in the Cloud it’s easy to see a contrast with the more straight-forward analogue, late 20th century world of objects in which heft, craft and solidity were seen as virtues. Ambiguity has become a defining feature of popular culture as well as product design. Our culture is woven with hidden and double-meanings, where bad means good and sick is great. Where irony adds layers of meaning and creates distance from emotional connection. Or, whatever.