Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

> "Even though Superfest glasses were ubiquitous in every bar, canteen and household in the Soviet satellite state, few people had heard of Paul Bittner, Fritz Keuchel and Tilo Poitz, the design collective who gave them their shape."

I guess that it is in the same way you do not hear about the engineers and designers at Apple, Space X, etc.

> I believe the technology in itself, is a bit more admirable and the people involved mentioning, than the mere shaping.

But we hear all the time about CEOs and their opinions, thou. And they are way less interesting that the tech and the engineers that work at their companies.



Yeah, how many designers and inventors of industrial processes, or materials, or techniques or such we know widely in the west?

Never mind that even for those well known to us engineers, regular people couldn't name what they did either, except maybe Edisson, Tesla, Wright Brothers, and a few more. E.g. would even more modern PhD holders know what Watt contributed? Or Lord Kelvin?

People like Gates, Bezos, Musk, and Jobs on the other hand, everybody knows.


Yes, the engineer CEOs like Gates, Musk and Jensen Huang certainly become very well known. Not so much for their engineering prowess (though it is typically great) but for being the symbol of the products they create.


> Not so much for their engineering prowess (though it is typically great) but for being the symbol of the products they create.

They are mostly known for being rich. Very very rich. Way better engineers creating way better products are not well known.

"Great engineering" is not the word choice I will go for to describe their legacy.




Consider applying for YC's Fall 2026 batch! Applications are open till July 27.

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: