Student perspectives on fabrication methods and design outcomes

Abstract

Industrial product design, as a field of design discipline, borrows concepts and methods from other disciplines, one of which is engineering, in order to develop its own knowledge in research and industry contexts. In the means of strengthening its place among other disciplines, a concentration on 'designerly' ways of knowing, thinking and acting should be provided. Therefore, in this study, the intersection between industrial product design field and engineering discipline is searched for revealing the engineering concepts and non-intuitive design methods within intuitive design methods used in industrial product design. Engineering design field is stated, since its being close to industrial product design, and a comparison is made between industrial product design and some engineering fields through their approach to design problems and the tools they use. Engineering design methods are stated and their advantages in design activity are revealed. This study is a part of design systems area, with formal approaches to models of design processes and knowledge. Finally, a case study of bicycles is carried out in order to prove the design approaches and the priorities of engineering and industrial product design on a product.