The First Secret of Design: What a $12 Haircut Taught Me

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgvHMrQ6Vq8

Deion Sanders famously said, “If you look good, you feel good. If you feel good, you play good.” I felt that extra boost after getting a fresh cut, but as I sat in the chair, I realized I was walking away with more than just a haircut—I was witnessing a masterclass in design.

The place was K-Cuts here in Singapore. At first glance, it’s a budget option: 10 to 15 minutes, cost-effective ($12 SGD), and no-frills. But when I looked closer, I saw that everything was designed with extreme intention.

I noticed the payment kiosk that eliminated queue friction. I saw the individual closets for customer belongings, the UV sterilizers for tools, and the ingenious vacuum system at the floor base that let stylists sweep away hair in a second. This wasn't just about aesthetics; it was about removing every non-essential barrier to create efficiency for both the customer and the employee.

Design is Problem Solving

We often confuse "design" with art. But to me, design is a creative problem-solving process. As creative producer Moses Kim says, “Every type of design exists to solve problems.” K-Cuts designed a system to solve the problems of time, cost, and hygiene simultaneously.

The Art of Noticing

In my work with students, I find that the hardest step in the design process isn't building the solution—it is identifying the problem. We get so used to our daily environments that we stop seeing the friction.

Tony Fadell, the designer behind the iPod, argues that the first secret to design is simply noticing.

This is a habit I am trying to cultivate. When I go out, whether I am looking at a watch display or checking into a hotel, I try to ask: Why was it designed this way? What is efficient? What is annoying?

When you practice being observant, you start to see the invisible problems around you. And that is where innovation begins. I encourage you to try it today. Look around during your next errand. You never know what problem you might find—and what solution you might be inspired to create.