Excellence in Design-

Once in a while I see something, and note to myself that it is an excellent design. Most of the time I grumble about poor design, but on occasion a really good design catches my eye (and sometimes other senses, if they are involved).

For me that awareness of superior design came in high school. Not in a class, but in a restroom.

That obviously demands some explanation. Whatever picture you have in your head, erase it right now.

The real one will be stranger.

Our school was expanding, with new buildings and some perimeter buildings being acquired. A friend came to me just after a building had been opened for student use, and asked me if I would like to see a urinal "big enough to hold an elephant's balls." Needless to say, I was curious, so I followed him to this new building and looked upon this amazing porcelain creation.

It was, indeed, large. It had an elegance that is generally missing in urine related equipment. It was tall at the back, sweeping gracefully out into a wide receiving bowl, and contracted into a leading point that projected much farther out between the legs of the user than any other I had seen.

This was a urinal pleasing to look at, which also would contain all splash, spray and dripping. It was a urinal that did its job with grace.

Whenever I see anything that is designed well to do its job with grace and style, my mind goes back to that urinal.

Needless to say, my mind is a strange place to live.