A few days ago, I gave a friend an A4 folder.

It was just a simple plastic folder, yet he was overjoyed, specifically praising the design. The dual-sided pockets, the tiny triangular flap in the top right corner that keeps the papers tucked away, preventing them from curling, slipping, or looking messy and "disheveled."

I was momentarily stunned. A design feature I had long taken for granted felt like a meticulously prepared gift to him. In that moment, I realized that within what I deemed "obvious," there lay the immense effort and care of unseen designers.

The square glue sticks; the stapleless staplers; the rotating mechanical pencil lead that never wears down to an awkward angle; the ruler etched onto a utility blade; the color-shifting ruler that remains visible against any background; the notepads whose lines perfectly align with the journal’s grid... none of these are "essential." Yet, every one of them "catches" a person at a specific moment.

It’s a peculiar feeling. Not one of dazzle or technical showmanship, but a quiet realization: "Ah, someone thought of this step for me."

I once asked some friends from the West why such high-quality stationery didn't have a bigger market over there. They laughed and said, "Why not just buy a functional, Made-in-China version at an office supply store? These designs are too 'extra,' too pretentious."

But I couldn't help but wonder: Isn't it exactly this "extra-ness" that pushes civilization forward, inch by inch?

Efficiency solves problems, but warmth keeps people here.

When traveling in Japan, one of my favorite things to do is spend an entire day in a Ginza stationery emporium. I don't even have to buy anything. I just look, touch, and feel. I observe how they rethink the smallest object over and over: Will the grip be uncomfortable? Will the colors strain the eyes? Will the user’s mood be cared for? Those seemingly useless designs are actually saying to the world: You deserve to be treated well.

It’s a choice of values: one side says "good enough," while the other says "I want to take care of you just a little bit more."

And civilization is almost always propelled by the latter— even if the latter is often dismissed as being "too extra."



—— 🎐 XC Scribbles · 壹佰貳拾玖 CXXIX ✏️