Invigorating Industrial Design Materials and Manufacturing Education

Abstract

well established, but selection for product expression/personality is underdeveloped. Recently a body of new research has emerged taking a humanistic perspective to the selection of materials for industrially manufactured products. The common point is to articulate ways in which designers can use materials to affect people's experiences of products on aesthetic, meaning and emotional levels, within a wider context of product differentiation, branding, and other commercial imperatives. Accompanying this new body of research is a need to examine implications for industrial design materials and manufacturing education. This article presents a case for pedagogical change, to achieve better alignment with current and future practices of industry. Research data were derived from literature reviews, analysis of interview data with designers, and a case study to develop and evaluate materials and manufacturing training on the undergraduate industrial design programme at Middle East Technical University, Turkey. Four educational initiatives are proposed to invigorate industrial design materials and manufacturing education: (i) echo professional practices regarding the range of subjects taught and the contexts for decision-making; (ii) develop understanding of materials experience, focusing especially on sensorial and intangible qualities of materials and embracing technical and non-technical languages to teach material properties; (iii) use material and product samples as teaching resources and consider adopting 'learning through making' strategies; and (iv) instil systematic material selection methods for both utilitarian and expressive uses of materials.

Investigation of design for additive manufacturing in professional design practice

“…producing complex shapes) that added value that more than compensated for the higher part cost. This might reflect that, although cost is a crucial factor for designers in materials and process selection, it is not necessarily the dominant driver in itself (Pedgley 2009). Designers may favour more expensive AM processes over conventional alternatives because they may be able deliver long term economic benefits (e.g.…”

“…It has previously been identified that the choice of manufacturing processes by designers are often constrained (or directed) by convenience (e.g. Pedgley 2009) and not necessarily for technical or knowledge reasons. This might indicate that although AM could theoretically be recognised as the most suitable production solution, it requires a change in existing designers' practices.…”

Technology Epiphany and an Integrated Product and Service

“…Therefore, this study refers instead to industrial designers' participation in new PSS development. Although the concept of industrial design has been defined in various ways (Verganti, 2008), it is agreed that it is responsible for a product's appearance and user-friendliness, among other things (Gemser & Leenders, 2001;Pedgley, 2009). Gorb and Dumas (1987) determined a process by which non-designers are engaged in design.…”

A User-centred Materials Selection Approach for Product Designers

“…Adding this to the model emphasises that in practice product designers often start their materials selection process already with a set of commonly used materials in their mind. This point is emphasized by the practical constraints and directions imposed on materials selection identified by Pedgley (2009).…”