Materials library collections as tools for interdisciplinary research

Abstract

This paper examines how materials libraries are used as tools for interdisciplinary collaboration in 3 research projects that inhabit a disciplinary triangle between materials research, design and user needs: PhysFeel, which explores how materials collections can be used in psychological therapies; Light.Touch.Matters, a design-led project to develop new smart materials; and Hands of X, which uses materials collections to develop a bespoke prosthetics service. The paper analyses and contrasts these case studies to better understand the affordances and limitations of materials collections when used as research, translational and design tools. We conclude that in collaborations between materials researchers, designers and end users, tensions arise as a result of the primacy that each partner gives to creativity, the development of new knowledge and to solving societal problems. The use of a materials library addresses many of these issues but is not a panacea for all the problems associated with interdisciplinary working.

Material Selection as Cooperative Process: A Framework Proposal for a Changing Economy

“…The increasing number of information concurring in materials selection plus the vast number of materials available, led practitioners to face a complex decision-making activity, an "iperscelta" (Manzini, 1989). To manage this "iperscelta", several methodologies have been theorised: first in engineering field, as resumed in Figure 3 (Allwood, Ashby, Gutowski, & Worrell, 2011Braungart et al, 2007;Jahan, Ismail, Sapuan, & Mustapha, 2010); but then also in the design field (Akin & Pedgley, 2014;Karana, Hekkert, & Kandachar, 2010;Wilkes & Miodownik, 2018;Wilkes et al, 2014). In all the methodologies reviewed in literature, material selection process is commonly attributed to engineers, technical professionals, or designers or, eventually, in mutual collaboration between them.…”

Poster: A Participatory Workshop to Design Vibrothermal Haptics of a Smart Fidget Surface for Remote Workers

“…The first simulated a work task using an e-mail assignment from an English lesson resource. 3 We instructed each participant to begin with the e-mail task only and to rate the experience. Next, participants performed the task with stimuli set-ups.…”

“…(1) We present the results of a study exploring which haptic and somatosensory props and interactions are comforting to users during prolonged computer work, (2) We present an initial design of an Interactive Fidget Surface using thermal feedback. settings and for users experiencing isolation, and decrease in engagement [2,3].…”

Material Education in Design: from Literature Review to rethinking

“…Material education activities can happen in diverse spaces; besides the classroom, the material library and fab lab can provide hands-on experiences to designers, navigate the materials selection process, considering that many aspects of materials are currently unquantifiable in experimental dimensions (Wilkes & Miodownik, 2018). For instance, a material library can provide access to physical samples of materials, which helps designers and design students translate material database and catalogue information to tangible experiences (Akın & Pedgley, 2016).…”

“…Services provided by different companies may also help, by engaging transdisciplinary collaboration in design. Following on the material library example, a private company could coordinate the relationship between material researcher, designer and user needs (Wilkes & Miodownik, 2018). Design schools, as important stakeholder, can be also engaged in these kinds of collaborations.…”