#HTE

Thanksgiving Dinner Table Discussion Topics for Industrial Designers, Part 2: If Other Industrial Designers are Present

It’s rare, but possible, that you’re spending this Thanksgiving with a bunch of other industrial designers, rather than non-design-savvy family members who don’t really get what you do. If that’s the case, then you have a rare opportunity to have long, drawn-out discussions about design with your peers in a non-office setting. The addition of alcohol can make the discussion more lively.

Here are some topics to get you started:

1. If Dieter Rams were to “sell out,” which organization or product should he do a cross-licensing deal with:

A. The L.A. Rams

B. The All-New 2019 Dodge Ram

C. Mola Ram, antagonist of “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,” for the 35th Anniversary DVD set

D. Battering Rams: A new set of pancake and crepe-making tools to be produced by Braun

E. Dieter RAM: A series of flash drives with modernist designs

2. Fact: Most experts agree that Industrial Design is the best of all design professions. Rank these other fields in order from second-best to worst.

- Architecture

- Fashion Design

- Graphic Design

- Interior Decoration

- Interior Design

- Mechanical Engineering

- Sewage Sluice Gate Maintenance Technician

- Living life as a rabbit

3. What was Apple’s best product?

- The original iMac

- The original iPod

- The original iPhone

- The original iPad

- That cube-shaped computer

- The titanium PowerBook

- The Macbook Air

- The Mac Pro

“All of Apple’s products are awesome–no YOU shut up. I will kill you”

4. What was Apple’s worst product?

- The original iMac

- The original iPod

- The original iPhone

- The original iPad

- That cube-shaped computer

- The titanium PowerBook

- The Macbook Air

- The Mac Pro

- “All of Apple’s products suck–no YOU shut up. I will kill you”

Random Short Topics

- Stuffing: A payload system for gravy

- Which Thanksgiving foods have the best and worst UX?

- Shop applications for electric carving knives

- If redesigning a turkey from scratch, where would you start?

- What series or line of products could be named after root vegetables and still gain consumer acceptance?

- In an end-of-the-world zombie-type scenario, which common studio tools would make the best survival weapons?

Bonus Minefield Question:

“Women are underrepresented in Industrial Design because ___________. The best way to reverse this would be _____________.”