Things Come Apart

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"Things Come Apart" is a fascinating book that offers readers a unique perspective on everyday objects. Authored by Todd McLellan, a talented photographer and designer, the book takes a deep dive into the inner workings of everyday items, meticulously disassembling them and arranging the components into visually striking, intricate compositions.

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Through this artful deconstruction, "Things Come Apart" invites readers to appreciate the beauty and complexity often hidden within the objects we use daily. Whether it's a vintage typewriter, a modern smartphone, or a classic camera, McLellan's stunning photographs showcase the precision, engineering, and craftsmanship behind these items. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the book also encourages contemplation about the evolution of technology and design, offering a thought-provoking exploration of how things come together and, inevitably, how they come apart. It's a visual celebration of the artistry that underpins our material world, encouraging us to see the beauty in the details that often go unnoticed.

For more perspectives, that might help as you design. Take a look at other bivouac-recommended readings.



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Danny Goodman's Macintosh Handbook

Many fond memories of shaping early interaction design courses in 1993 persist here at the bivouac. I was fortunate to enter the field at a time when computing had matured just enough to become accessible to a broader range of creatives. I was also lucky to teach both introductory and advanced courses in computer visualization.

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For the introductory course, I relied upon Danny Goodman’s excellent Macintosh Handbook Featuring System 7. Bringing together Danny Goodman and Richard Saul Wurman, this publication was and remains an exceptional example of accessible and visually delightful educational material. The illustrations are clear and inviting, and they demystified the breakthrough technology on offer from Apple at the time. For other inspirational publications, check out the bivouac’s list of design-related readings. Overall, Danny Goodman’s Macintosh Handbook remains an outstanding exemplar of explicit and inspirational instructional reference material. It passes the test of time in a fast-moving technical context. For a first-hand account of what went into creating the publication, visit Nathan Shedroff’s site article.

The book is innovative in other ways as well. Information and terms are supplemented with hypertext-like cross-references to related content in different book sections. This is an excellent reminder of the heady days of the dawn of the Macintosh and the promise of newly accessible computing for all creatives to enjoy. The publication visuals mimic the Macintosh operating system visuals, including a “finder” menu along the top of many pages, to further demystify the new world of Apple technology.

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