Holy Sputnik, Batman!

So, my final project in Digital Media I is an animated poem, produced with Adobe After Effects. This is an ambitious project, but so far it has been fun. To spare you a bunch of boring details, lets just say that my idea involves me researching some space - travel type things, especially satellites. As I was looking through images on Wikimedia Commons, I quickly realized that contemporary satellites were not what I had in mind. They all look a little too 1990's. (if that makes any sense) Anyway, I typed in Sputnik, mainly because it is the only satellite I actually know the name of. Here's what I found.

 Who knew Sputnik was so beautiful? It kind of makes me sad that technology doesn't look like this anymore. I mean, sure Macbooks are always getting smaller and shinier, but the average gadget is pretty, meh. Mid-Century technology  often inspired the imagination, not only because of what it did, but also how it looked. I feel that aesthetics has drifted pretty low on the priorities list of many product designers out there. I don't think many people would give up their iPhones or wall mounted Flat Screens, but can anyone deny that most turn dial telephones and I Love Lucy style televisions were easier on the eyes? Sometimes, I just want my gadget to be pretty. If the U.S.S.R was able to make a space traveling hunk of metal beautiful in the 50's, why can't we put a little flair into our high-tech tools and trinkets?  Do you think that your cell phone is beautiful just the way it is, or would you like a little more oomph in the appearance of your gadgets?