Author Archive for Yasmine Abbas

Its fibers cracked, expanded, lost their elasticity. That jeans became MY jeans, because with time… My body broke it in. I own it. And giving it in is like being skinned… as flesh and fabric has assembled. It is both the time and usage with consequently the fact that I recognize it (eyes and touch, my senses), that that makes it mine. No one else but me can wear it perfectly. It is worn to fit.

I belong to my jeans as much as they belong to me.

In the same way, we observe that with usage, the traditional tool of the craftsman molds to fit the hand of its owner. A wooden staircase which steps are thinner in the middle shows the passage of people and time. It is what gives it a charm. Visually we can assess the power of men over the inanimate object, made of tender material. It is as if the object subjects to people.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary online, ergonomics was in 1954 described as the finding of the perfect man machine unit so “to promote accuracy and speed of operation, and at the same time to ensure minimum fatigue and thereby maximum efficiency.”

In 2000, the International Ergonomics Association suggests an official definition of ‘ergonomics’… Ergonomics “promotes a holistic approach in which considerations of physical, cognitive, social, organizational, environmental and other relevant factors are taken into account.”

For designers, ergonomics relates to comfort. For me, it also fosters a sense of appropriation and belonging. So how can this sense of appropriation and belonging happen in the age of digital fabrication and standardization? Even if customized, my cell phone resembles many other people’s cell phone. I recognize it because of the scratches on its surface. It doesn’t however mold to fit my hand! Its weight, and texture are somewhat inadequate; the plastic is too hard to melt. Comfort and appropriation are key factors to make this device a fetish.