Objects, Communications and Environments

A lot of material was covered throughout these three chapters but when Heskett discussed objects in chapter five, that's what really interested me. He mentioned how objects are usually used for more than what they were designed for. I agree with this because I use my desk chair to stand on, store my book bag, coat and hold up my mattress when I made a fort earlier this year. After realizing how true his statement was, I started to think about the various ways in which I use objects for more than what they are intended for. I would say the majority of my objects in my dorm room right now are being used for more than their original purpose. For example, right now my TV is being used as a pumpkin holder, my printer is supporting my Nerf gun and my juice cup is holding butter scotches. If designers know ahead of time that their products might be used for more than just one purpose, I wonder if they consider this while designing. Do chair designers make chairs sturdier at the base in case someone uses it as a step latter? Do they make objects flat so people like me can rest their pumpkins on them? Further more, if designers do this, I wonder if their products sell better than those of designers who don't take these things into consideration.