Bad design and the role of Design Tools

This is more of a rant than anything else. The thought crossed my mind when I was hunting for photo albums on a leading e-commerce platform.

I have been meaning to arrange all 2158 photos that my parents have clicked over the years into 7–10 albums which will then take a place of pride on the bookshelf. Alas, after spending hours on various e-commerce platforms, I am unable to find an album that I would like to arrange these photos in. All I was looking for was a decent product with a simple cover. And after browsing through countless listings of albums that look like as shown in the image above, I gave up.

And then in frustration I said (out loud) “access to these design tools should be snatched from such folks”

Surface ornamentation. That's the problem. No good designer worth their salt would make something as appalling as the exhibits in the image above. This problem is prevalent everywhere. Just look up when you’re on the road and notice the political banners. Look at the packaging of the products you use in your own house.

So what does it have to do with Design Tools?

Well, they were made accessible to people who didn't have the sense to use it.