Irritation takes place when reality fails to match up with expectations. When confronted with an irritation, some people will ignore it and hope it goes away. Some will laugh. Others will be become angry. There is no "correct" response.

The value in irritating someone doesn't come from annoying them (though it can be fun) -- it comes from the increase in awareness, discussion, and interaction that otherwise would be absent. By challenging someone's reactions and expectations, irritation provides a venue for the irritated to question their autonomous responses, and facilitiates the creation of new behaviors and ideas.

Artist and Irritant Gear founder Dustin Smith grew up on the shores of Lake Ontario in Rochester, NY where his older brother and sister were the first to identify his more irritating personality traits. He now resides in the heart of Washington, DC, where his skills are in high demand.