Most products work, few work well

Some of the most familiar moments in a day begin with something simple like boiling water. The first cup before the day starts, a pause in the middle of it, a quiet reset at the end. These moments are easy to overlook because they are routine, but they are also where design shows up most clearly. Not just in how something looks, but in how it behaves when it is used again and again.  A kettle is a good example. It is a familiar object, one that has exis...