A friend of mine suggested an interesting thought exercise that I
wanted to share.

While Apple is not the only really innovative company out there, they
are well known for producing well designed products. Thus they are the
example used in this exercise.

The exercise goes like this.

Think of some relatively common product that you use and then try to
think through what it would look like if Apple designers applied their
skills to it... or in other words, Extreme Makeover Apple Edition. :-)

Some of the items that came to mind that could use a "makeover" were:

clock radios
toaster ovens
vending machines (the kind that 30-40 distinct items)
digital cameras
multi-function TV/DVD remote

Pick one, and try to think through what could be done to make it more
usable, more "Apple-ish". The end result is not as important as the
thought process you go through getting the result. In the end, it may
very well help you take a different perspective at work when thinking
about new products to create.

Saeed