hands on door handles Ian P Lockyer by ian lockyer from uk

“don’t spend time beating on a wall, hoping to transform it into a door.” coco chanel

literal forms of ergonomic design are more often than not too explicit and obsessive in their attempts to unify and harmonise mind, body and object. this dogged pursuit disregards the individual power and presence of object, seemingly indifferent to the significance of awkward interaction or the belief that an object’s refusal or inability to conform can be equally as compelling as something that yields entirely.

evidently, there is a palpable dynamic present between human beings and the world which we inhabit. It is the preservation, exploration and exploitation of such tension that results in works that truly sing to us. memorable, not solely through form or aesthetic, but through one’s realisation of interaction, or the promotion of idiosyncratic behaviour.

my submission is a measured response, perhaps most aptly described as a moderately comfortable solution.

strategic cuts, curves and straight edges hint at past, as well as potential future patterns of utilisation. the object is accommodating and will effectively be uniquely shaped over time.

through a sequence of subtly restrained gestures, the handle’s aesthetic is both synthetic and natural, precisely machined, yet individually hand-made. form is simultaneously overbearing and submissive, beautifully inviting, yet muted, in equal amounts.

the balance is purposely off centre, misaligned with the governing pivot or fulcrum. this solution challenges the orthodox in an attempt to further one’s awareness of event.

two bolts and a sunken, flush rose serve to primarily bolster rigidity and dependability, but also conceptually unite opposing materials, components and the two estranged sides of the door. i concede that this could prove to be a hindrance, but conversely also believe in the design’s credibility, enough to withstand the desire or need to ever be superseded.

to augment the appropriateness or relevance of the door handle to its respective time and place, i prefer to remain non-specific, and thus flexible, regarding the preferential choice of material.