Icon: Dan Formosa

Dan Formosa

Design don behind everything from the first IBM PC to the modern New York cab

The ergonomics doctor who puts purpose ahead of tech excess We BELIEVE TECH designers, grand architects OF commodity that they are, should have their efforts commemorated. Joining T3’ s growing roll of honour this month is aesthetic ace Dr Dan Formosa, lecturer, consultant and founder of Smart Design.

Part of the team that designed IBM’s very first home computer back in 1981, Formosa hasn’t slowed since. From lean, mean Flip camcorders to the new, modernised New York yellow cab, he specialises in forward-thinking, ergonomically minded ideas.

The ethos of Formosa’s firm Smart Design is to “improve lives, designing for purpose, not just appearance”. So it’s clearly just a bonus that all his work looks pretty good, too…