Is design or material more important?

Tohatchi NM

Tohatchi NM

Joined
Mar 26, 2002
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Reading one of the other threads, I began to wonder.

When you make a knife purchase, do you look more for design or materials? Of course, both matter, but let's do a thought experiment.

You have knife X in your hand, and are going to buy it. Ergonomics are good, fit and finish are good, and cost isn't an issue. What would be the most likely reason you wouldn't buy it:

A) It's aesthetically fugly.
B) The steel and/or handle material isn't top-notch (think "surgical stainless" and plastic).

(edited to reword option B)
 
Definitely "B". I don't really care if it's 'pretty', in fact, I can never bring myself to use it if it looks too nice. I'll go with mechanical precision and performance every time.
 
Hey, this is the Spyderco forum, of course the answer is "B" :D

I nearly got caught out on your question, when you say "Is design or material more important ?", I would consider ability to function the major part of the design rather than aethetics.
 
I believe the design carries the product, any product. A poorly designed product made with good materials is not likely to be successful. A good design made with poor materials (eg; knock offs) sell well.

Also, "design" does not necessarily include aesthetics unless it was designed with aesthetics in mind. A design could be a good design with little concern for aesthitics; a container, a drill or a cage are just some examples.

sal
 
Originally posted by Sal Glesser
I believe the design carries the product, any product. A poorly designed product made with good materials is not likely to be successful. A good design made with poor materials (eg; knock offs) sell well.

Also, "design" does not necessarily include aesthetics unless it was designed with aesthetics in mind. A design could be a good design with little concern for aesthitics; a container, a drill or a cage are just some examples.

sal
Click to expand...

I specified aesthetic design because I think that's what most people look at when they start to pick a knife (and many other things). If something looks unappealing, you're less likely to pick it up and get a feel for the functionality. Ideally, aesthetics, function, construction, and materials would all be high. But it's much easier to make purchasing decisions on aesthetics and materials, because functionality and construction quality take more time to assess. YMMV

Interesting so far...

(spelling edit)
 
Hi Tohatchi NM.

"I specified aesthetic design because I think that's what most people look at when they start to pick a knife (and many other things). If something looks unappealing, you're less likely to pick it up and get a feel for the functionality. Ideally, aesthetics, function, construction, and materials would all be high. But it's much easier to make purchasing decisions on aesthetics and materials, because functionality and construction quality take more time to assess. YMMV "

What you say is probably true of "most people". However, Spyderco products, which are proven highly funtional (more than most company's) are often described as "aestehetically unappealing". It is often that high function design that makes the design "aesthetically unappealing. Many lose out on the opportunity to experience the high function of our products because of the appearance. More often than not, it is a recommendation that sells our product than the casual "pick up and hold".

Especially since, as you say, it takes more time to assess.

However, in the last analysis, IMO, it will be the design that ultimately causes the "sale", whether it be for an aesthetically pleasing design of a highly functional design.

sal
 
All joking aside.
I and some others here often joke about Spyderco's being ugly, but this can't really be true else I wouldn't own around 50 of them ;)

There are mainy types of beauty, and possibly because I come from a technical background, where part of my job is to find solutions to technical construction problems, I really admire the technical elegance that Spyderco use to have a knife perform certain designed for tasks Beauty also comes from fit and finish together with the right blend of materials for the job. Take the Kiwi for example, the tolerance is so fine that when I close my eyes and run my thumb across the back of the knife I cant tell where the spacer stops and the tang of the blade starts. (I think I might need serious help, it gives me a warm fuzzy fealing everytime I do that :D )

OK, so they may not have the "clasical" beauty of some other makes, but for me the art is having a very precisely made knife that I know has been designed for the sole purpose of cutting and does so to the utmost ability of the materials used.
 
You want aesthetics? Go get yourself a T. McGuane "Nemo Abyss"! And then use it for cutting wood, rope, strings, digging in the ground, food preparation and who knows what else (just like I do with my Delica). Call me after a year and we'll compare the knives. ;)
 
As things go I'm pretty tolerant of "less than top tier steel", that is to say, I don't mind 440A, 420HC, or AUS6A... nor do I mind FRN/Zytel/Polyamide/Noryl GTX but when it's cheap plain plastic and "surgical stainless" even I have my limits... forget it.
 
My eyes like the design. My brain likes the material. Somehow they both seem to work together to cause me to really like the SS SE VG-10 Police model the best.
 
I'm with Young Cutter on this. I like good design, but the most beautiful and functional blade in the world isn't going to end up in my collection if it's a "Home Shopper's Network Special". I don't mind common materials, but not cheap ones.
 
I have no problem working with FRN and Aus6 or Aus8... I'd prefer G-10 and VG-10 or G-10 and a High Carbon... I use Micarta and 8A daily at work.

Function is top, comfort is 2nd(I use my BM 5W all day at work, ain't the most comfy by any stretch), materials are 3rd, looks are 4th.

As you can see, looks are the last thing on my mind. I even dislike the sebenza as it's not comfy in my hand.

Given the choices in this question, it gives me B for an option, putting materials over looks. if I have a choice of 2 knives, same price, 6A/FRN vs 440c/Ti(/G-10)(/alum)... I'm taking the 440c one.
 
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