Product & Industrial Design Videos Hacker News Recommends

explainer#147

The Ingenious Design of the Aluminum Beverage Can

engineerguy

“Whenever it’s about cans I can only recommend this video from the engineer guy”

9 HN recommenders · 2016–2026

explainer#926

The Grille Trend that Kills 509 People per Year

FortNine

“This guy ties grill height directly to fatalities.”

5 HN recommenders · 2024–2026

talk#1039

Steve Jobs Insult Response

Mike Cane

“Watch Jobs in his prime a year later describing his philosophy”

4 HN recommenders · 2011–2022

explainer#1096

British Plugs Are Better Than All Other Plugs, And Here's Why

Tom Scott

“There's the obligatory Tom Scott video here, which always gets shared, deservedly so”

3 HN recommenders · 2019–2025

comedy#1245

Microsoft Re-Designs the iPod Packaging

Brant Walsh

“brutal but hilarious commentary on Microsoft's inherent dysfunction when it comes to product naming and packaging”

4 HN recommenders · 2011–2026

explainer#1307

Segmented Displays

Posy

“here is a meditative video on alternative segmented displays.”

3 HN recommenders · 2023–2026

talk#1412

Steve Jobs Insult Response - Highest Quality

Jonathan Field

“Steve Job's response is brilliant here, frankly quite timeless and ultimately (in my view) apropos.”

3 HN recommenders · 2020–2026

demo#1594

Nokia Morph Concept (long)

Alexander Budde

“I have just watched the video about it [2] again and I am still as excited about it as I was 11 years ago.”

3 HN recommenders · 2011–2025

explainer#1620

So... the minute hand shows progression — apparently we think of time in wildly different ways

Technology Connextras

“Technology Connections has a very good video on this, and completely changed thinking”

3 HN recommenders · 2022–2026

talk#1654

5 steps to designing the life you want | Bill Burnett | TEDxStanford

TEDx Talks

“Highly recommend their book!”

2 HN recommenders · 2017–2022

interview#1777

Steve Jobs Content vs Process

Bo Manton

“I wish more leaders understood this.”

3 HN recommenders · 2021–2026

interview#1968

Meeting my hero! Sailing legend Sven Yrvind

Sam Holmes Sailing

“I watched this video [1] to get an idea about the man and his boat design philosophy and it's very cool.”

3 HN recommenders · 2022–2023

explainer#2110

The Antique Microwave Oven that's Better than Yours

Technology Connections

“it explains how microwaves use a humidity probe to sense steam escaping from say a microwave-popcorn bag to determine when its done.”

7 HN recommenders · 2020–2025

talk#2220

Find your primal posture and sit without back pain: Esther Gokhale at TEDxStanford

TEDx Talks

“I found this Ted talk helped me with some lower back and leg issues.”

3 HN recommenders · 2016–2018

documentary#2535

Extreme transformer home in Hong Kong: Gary Chang's 24 rooms in 1

Kirsten Dirksen

“I can't recommend Kirsten Dirksen's channel enough to people interested in architecture, energy efficiency, tiny homes”

2 HN recommenders · 2019–2024

explainer#2681

Everything is a Remix Part 3 (Original Series, 2011)

Kirby Ferguson

“Then watch this rather insightful video titled 'Everything is a Remix'”

2 HN recommenders · 2011–2018

interview#2690

1993 interview re: Paul Rand and Steve Jobs

youareworthy

“I really enjoyed his uncompromising attitude”

2 HN recommenders · 2010–2012

talk#2790

Thomas Thwaites: How I built a toaster -- from scratch

TED

“a great example of the hidden complexities of”

2 HN recommenders · 2019–2025

explainer#2887

Why Western Designs Fail in Developing Countries

Design Theory

“explains a general problem (that of trying to solve problems that are more prevalent elsewhere in the world, from within your own cultural context)”

2 HN recommenders · 2024–2025

demo#2961

Conventional Keyboards Are STAGGERINGLY STUPID!

Ben Vallack

“These videos [2][3] from Ben Vallack demonstrate this nicely.”

2 HN recommenders · 2021–2022

explainer#3051

The Senseless Ambiguity of North American Turn Signals

Technology Connections

“did a very informative (though a bit ranting) video on them in the US. Worth a watch and really interesting.”

2 HN recommenders · 2020–2024

other#3226

Apple - iMac G4 "Lamp" ad (2002)

thecupertinoads

“I still remember this ad for the G4 which feels very similar to Luxo Jr. from Pixar. Really fun.”

2 HN recommenders · 2020–2025

explainer#3230

How to design an actually good toaster with lessons from the 1940's

Technology Connections

“This one about Sunbeam toasters from 50+ years ago is particularly great”

2 HN recommenders · 2022–2024

commentary#3465

Steve Jobs on Microsoft

JoshuaG

“This summarize it very well, lack of taste and lack of vision, it's that simple”

2 HN recommenders · 2009–2022

explainer#3520

It's not you. Bad doors are everywhere.

Vox

“The Vox vodcast(?) in [1] goes a lot further into the problem, starting from a very similar door.”

2 HN recommenders · 2019–2025

commentary#3799

Steve Jobs Microsoft has no taste

Николай Товеровский

“It's great vintage Steve Jobs.”

1 HN recommenders · 2020–2026

explainer#3942

Chest Freezers; What they tell us about designing for X

Technology Connections

“Technology Connections did a decent video that covers freezer design decisions like that and others”

1 HN recommenders · 2020–2026

explainer#4508

Lessons from a Can Opener

Technology Connections

“it's made me actually think about can openers a bit now. You might find it interesting, too.”

1 HN recommenders · 2022–2023

documentary#4535

Lego-style apartment transforms into infinite spaces

Kirsten Dirksen

“I like this guy's sliding lego house”

1 HN recommenders · 2012–2018

comedy#4662

Zizek on toilets

Diego Cumplido

“You might find this short video entertaining (Zizek on toilets)”

1 HN recommenders · 2018–2026