INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

The World of Design Beyond Function

MFE 540 Design for Manufacturability
Dr. Paul D. Cotnoir, Ph.D.
What is Industrial Design?
Prior to 1900s
Industrial Design
basically didnt
exist.
Products created to
perform a specific
function
Didnt care how it
looked as long as it got
the job done
What is Industrial Design?
Originated in Germany
in early 1900s
Architects and engineers
Emphasis on geometry,
precision, simplicity,
economy in product design
Form Follows Function
architect Louis Sullivan
A products purpose should
determine its design
What is Industrial Design?
Then came the United States
Consumer driven society
Competition
Theater designers and artists
Products are tailored to demand of
Sales and Advertising Departments
Exterior matters greatly, interior not so
much
Industrial Design Today
Five goals of Industrial Design
Utility safe, easy to use, intuitive
Appearance form, color, etc.
Ease of Maintenance
Low Cost features impact $$$
Communication corporate design
philosophy and mission
Source Henry Dreyfuss - 1967
Industrial Design Today
The professional service of creating and
developing concepts and specifications that
optimize the function, value and appearance of
products and systems for the mutual benefit of
both user and manufacturer. Industrial
Designers Society of America (ISDA)
Importance of Industrial Design to
Products
All products that are used, operated,
or seen by people depend critically
on Industrial Design for commercial
success.
Industrial Design

Ergonomics + Aesthetics = IMAGE!

Relative importance of ergonomics
and aesthetic determines the value of
the industrial design
Ergonomics
How important is ease of
use?
How important is ease of
maintenance?
How many user interactions
are required for the products
functions?
How novel are the user
interaction needs?
What are the safety issues?
Aesthetics
Is visual product
differentiation
required?
How important are
pride of ownership,
image, and fashion?
Will an aesthetic
product motivate the
team?

Aesthetics
Aesthetics
Product and Brand Identification
Industrial Design Process
Determine customer
needs
Generate concepts
Preliminary refinement
Final concept selection
Drawings
Coordinate with
engineering,
manufacturing,
vendors, etc.

Stages in the Design of a Product
Sketch
Detailed rendering
Foam, clay model (soft model)
Wood, plastic (hard model)
Rapid prototype part
Rapid tooling
Injection molded parts
Prototype tooling Soft mold
Production tooling Hard mold
$100
$1000
$10,000
Industrial Design Is It Worth It?
Costs
Direct
Manufacturing
Time to market

Benefits
Increased appeal
Increased customer
satisfaction
Increased brand identity
Increased product
differentiation
Industrial Design Is It Worth It?
How Good is the Industrial Design?
VERY Subjective!!!
Ergonomics / user
interface-ease of use
Aesthetics appearance,
feel, sound, smell
Quality / Reliability ease
of maintenance & repair
Resource Functionality -
$ usefulness
Product Differentiation
brand identity
Industrial Design Exercise
The Task:
Individually, which product would you purchase?
Why?
How much more would you be willing to pay for it over the
others?
As a group, examine the 5 Quality Categories previously
mentioned. Determine each categorys importance relative
to the current products. Rate each category 1 to 5 (5 =
highly important)
Rank all product variations given to you based on 5 Quality
Categories previously mentioned.
Is the one you originally picked the best option?
Assessing the Quality of Industrial Design
(Ulrich and Eppinger)
Score (1 5)
1. Quality of the User Interfaces

2. Emotional Appeal (Aesthetics)
Appearance, quality, image
3. Ability to Maintain and Repair Product

4. Appropriate Use of Resources
Low cost, right features, material selection, environment
5. Product Differentiation
Uniqueness and consistency with corporate identity
Industrial Design Exercise

Quality Categories
User
Interfaces
Aesthetics Reliability Appropriate Use
of Resources
Product
Differentiation
Sum
Importance
Weight X
Individual
Ranking
Importance
Weight (1-5)
Rite Aid
Renewal Twin
$0.37
Rite Aid
Single
$0.25
BiC Silky
Touch
$0.45
Gillette
Venus
$4.00
Schick Slim
Twin ST2
$0.77
Industrial Design Exercise
Rite Aid Renewal Twin
No label, pink
Twin blade
Long handle for better grip
Lubricating strip
Rite Aid Renewal Single
No label, yellow
Single blade
BiC Silky Touch
Label on handle, pastel colors
Twin blade
Lubricating strip
Gillette Venus Sensitive Sensible
Lubricating strip with extra lube
Three blades
Pivoting rounded head to fit easily into hard to shave areas
Specially designed handle shape and rubber grip for great control
Label on head
Schick Slim Twin ST2
Label on handle
Twin blade
Lubricating strip
Push button for cleaning
Rubber grip