Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1436094
DECEMBER 2021 I DESIGN007 MAGAZINE 69 have a higher probability of trouble-free, first pass success. While component sourcing is not a conven- tional DFM aspect, today's supply chain issues are proving that component scrutiny through- out the design process, and particularly at the time of manufacturing release, is no longer a "nice-to-have," but rather a "must-have." Again, PCB design tools are available today, instrumented with supply-chain awareness throughout all design domains, which helps to assure that the availability of parts does not delay manufacturing. DFM, in my opinion, at least during these times, has a new attribute called design for availability. Shaughnessy: Steve Jobs demanded that the inside of the device look as beautiful as the out- side. Are electronics designers and engineers "closet artists" looking for a chance to express themselves? Mazur: Some may indeed be closet artists, as each designer has their own artistic pro- pensities. is may simply be a subconscious desire to make things that are evenly spaced, symmetrical, balanced, and pleasing to the eye, or a conscious objective of the designer. Like many things in life, it varies across indi- viduals. I do think there is an opportunity for designers to express themselves artisti- cally as they attempt to meet the specification objectives of designs and, in fact, many choose to do so. I think Steve Jobs can be considered the father of modern human factor engineering. From the very beginning, his products were simply different than any other, especially com- pared to the more sharp-cornered and boxy computers of the early PC era. When Apple II arrived in 1977, it just looked different, and while most companies used traditional fasten- ers for their enclosures, Apple used Velcro in a practical manner, to hold the cover in place. Just as aficionados of Picasso, Monet, or Rem- brandt can pick out each of these artists' works without looking at the signature, Apple has had its own look that is immediately differentiable to aficionados of computer hardware, and this trend continues today. I have not studied the key players at Apple, but when it came to product development, it seems that Steve Jobs was more of the artistic type, while Steve Wozniak addressed more of the science. is was a balanced team that did some amazing things and trying to replicate these balanced perspectives on product design teams is not without merit. Shaughnessy: Is there anything else you'd like to add? Mazur: In today's "tear-down video" world, paying attention to the artistic presentation throughout a design cannot hurt. Humans have a natural tendency to prefer things that are pleasing to the eye. It seems that all the classics—be it early radios, automobiles, and even computers—were heralded for not only how they performed and how they looked on the outside, but also how they looked under the hood. e art aspect both inside and out- side can also give OEMs the opportunity to dif- ferentiate their products based on something more than specifications. Shaughnessy: anks for your time, Vince. Mazur: ank you, Andy. DESIGN007 Apple has had its own look that is immediately differentiable to aficionados of computer hardware, and this trend continues today.