Steven Moseley’s Blog

Ever since IKEA came to the USA a few years ago, people have been abuzz about it.  There’s something exotic and desirable about its “European Design” theme that makes Americans just itch to spend their money on the stuff.  Bright colors, funky shapes, clean simple lines, and cheap Chinese prices: the perfect combo!

But for anyone thinking they’re buying Bauhausian-grade goods, think again.  You really do get what you pay for.  IKEA’s “European Designers” are not the greats of the old days of the modern age.  Their furniture is primarily designed to reduce production costs.  That means they use chinsy materials and finishes and lots of modular components.  Don’t fool yourself, the majority of IKEA furniture will fall apart after a few years of good use, and even though it looks good, most of it is terrible in function.

Here’s a perfect example of IKEA crapitude.  The HELMER drawer unit, proudly displayed atop the IKEA drawer-units page.  It’s $40, and looks great, but when you actually buy one and start to assemble it, you realize what a piece of garbage it is.  Each component (each drawer, drawer face, panel, etc., must be folded together.  Granted, this is a clever construction technique, but think about it - you’re folding painted metal.  How long do you think before that brittle paint starts to flake?  Then, when you actually assemble the unit, you start to realize something.  The drawers have no ball-bearing sliders.  They don’t even have rollers.  They’re bare painted metal on painted metal.  How many slides before that paint rubs off and you have rusted metal sliding on rusted metal?  There’s also no stop when you pull the drawer out.  Half-way out, the drawer is tilting 15 degrees to the ground.  6″ later, it’s ON the ground.

I’m sorry, for the same amount of money you spend at IKEA, you can get something that will last you a long time and function extremely well.  Usability is a very important aspect of design that IKEA apparently forgot to address.  The stuff they sell really is on par with what you’ll get at Walmart or Target (if that).  I’ve actually purchased some furniture from Target for very cheap that was really high quality.  You just really have to sift through to find the items that are worth while.

For example, I found this shelving unit (picture at right) for about $60, which holds 350 lbs per shelf, looks great, and has lasted me 5 years and is still in like-new condition.  I’m still a little concerned that one day I’ll come home and find all the chrome has peeled off, but until that happens, it’s got a big plus in my book!

So anyway, back to IKEA.  Why is this thread in the Sheeple section?  I was at an IKEA store last night with a friend, and I couldn’t help but laugh uncontrollably when I noticed how they organize their stores.  They create a maze of walls leading people through the entire store in a predetermined path, and blocking any direct movement from one are to another.   Egress is a real concern.  To get to the exit, you first have to go through bedding, office, lamps, textiles, accessories, etc. etc., subjecting yourself to IKEA’s “buy me” good looks along the way.  It’s like having to walk through the Amsterdam Red Light district after a disappointing date.  Everything is so appealing to the eye, but you know you’ll regret it if you pick something up!

I’m registered as an Independent in Florida.  This used to mean that I would be allowed to vote for whomever I wanted.  Not anymore!  Barack Obama, the spammiest politician of all time, has decided that my Independent status means that I want to be inundated with phone calls, direct mailings, and other annoying marketing tactics in order to realize that he’s the candidate for me!!!

Seriously, I was really considering actually voting for the guy, but after more than 10 phone calls from his brainwashed cronies, a nationwide infomercial, and other really inconsiderate marketing tactics, I have to wonder: is this the type of guy I want as President of the United States?  He’s like the annoying nerd in high school who got out the megaphone and screeched in your ear to try to get you to vote him in to office.

When will people realize you can’t annoy others into buying what you’re selling?

Transio is my web development company, which I formed (or more accurately, reformed) in January 2007. The story behind Transio is that when I first left architecture and began developing websites, it was my DBA name. I bought transio.com in 1999 and did work under that name as a consultant, using the website as my brand (a la “GaboCorp” of the same era). Then I found employment with other companies and left Transio in stasis. In 2002, I incorporated with a business partner as Transio, Inc., offering advanced web solutions and software development. There was enough demand for our services to perpetuate the business, but the partnership didn’t work out, and in 2003, we dissolved the corporation.

In January 2007, I reformed the company as Transio, LLC, this time as a sole proprietorship. The first year of operations were incredibly good to me, and as of January 2008, I have a staff of 4 designers and programmers working with me, and lots of great things in the works. I’ll post updates to this blog as we have any… company news is available on the Transio website in the press section.

Visit us at www.transio.com

Ok, so this is my first post here, on the latest (and hopefully final) iteration of my site.  So this time it’s a blog.  Great, another blog to clutter the Internet.

This website will serve as a journal for my personal projects, business ventures, art/design experiments, and philosophical ramblings.

So without further ado, welcome!