Judging by the all-art-and-no-engineering look of this tanker, I doubt the thing was ever seaworthy. We won’t have to wait long for it to sink.

As for the money, let’s see the contract.

I used to drive crappy-looking cars. The important thing to me was that they were mechanically sound and safe. I can’t see the outside of a car when I am driving it, so it doesn’t bother me. And an ugly car can even grow on you over time, just like an ugly dog. If your car seat has a big hole in the cushion and the springs are visible, then stuff an old quilt in the hole. That’s what I did. When the wiper switch won’t work and the motor won’t stop with the blades at the bottom anymore, then drill a hole in the dash and install a toggle switch. That’s what I did.

The design of this yacht is different, I’ll admit. But it is interesting in an angular fashion. I imagine that the inside of the yacht is quite luxurious and that would make up for a whole lot in my book. When I am captain of that yacht on the open waters, it will look a lot better than in the picture.

By the way, for those who haven’t seen the Pixar movie “Brave”, after the main credits there’s a touching dedication to Steve Jobs.

I think there is more than a touch of envy in opinions here (and elsewhere) in regards to this boat. Of course, my opinion of other people’s opinions on this matter might just be colored by my rather contemptuous opinion of other people’s opinions in general.

The Venus clearly represents the minimalist design aesthetic of Jobs and those who brought his visions into being.

I’m sure we all know someone who is photogenic… whose photos look better than they do in person. Not that they are unattractive, per se… but due to the nature (limitations?) of photography, they look better in photos.

Well, they are some people (and things) that are un-photogenic. Photos make them look worse.

Having seen other photos of the Venus, it is clearly one of those things that photos do not do justice to. Particularly in 3/4 view and head on shots. In the photo above the superstructure overwhelms and makes it look top heavy and ungainly. From a side on view, it is nowhere near as impressive.

As for it’s “big square ass”, it doesn’t look all that different from many other yachts I’ve seen.

When it comes to commentary about what constitutes good design, if MDN truly had any class (let alone respect) they would have kept their opinion to themselves and let this “news article” slide by without notice. Who cares? This is Enquirer fodder.

My respect for MDN disappeared with statement 2 of the MDN take… along with any notion that MDN had any general sense of human decency.

It’s a good thing most takes go uncredited.

Despite what most people feel, just because they like (or dislike) how something looks doesn’t confer them with any sense of design (let alone a good one). Without any design training and/or expertise, all they know about how things look is what they like/dislike.

And that don’t mean crap.

But then again, the lack of taste might be expected when looking at the design choices used for this MDN website. It looks like it was designed by a 5 year old using iWeb (without a template) for the first time.

=:~)

I can’t think of anything Starck has ever designed that I’ve liked. I remember years ago we got a TV, the make of which I forget, and the remote was designed by Starck. It was just crap. Number of buttons aside, because you can debate the advantages of more buttons against less, and which should be visible or under a flap, whatever, but this thing was just awful to hold and every button was a crappy size.

Just pay the remainder of the bill and then sell the bloody thing. It’s aweful and an imbarreemt to style and good taste.

Based on this I would say that Steve’s boat should stay impounded at the harbour cause it most probably will not survive actual waves in the ocean. On the other hand it may be better for it to disgrace the bottom of the ocean rather than its surface.

To me a ship (like a car, or any other designed object) should acknowledge the forces of the environment it lives in. This ship (and others like it), try to ignore the water and wind.

As for Starck’s fee, he’s gotten 6M Euros, that’s highway robbery!