Design Process and Ideation Tools

Design Process

• The design process consists of five stages: Empathies, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test
• Ideation tools include:
  • Pre-design brainstorming
  • Mood board
  • Digital prototyping (3D printing)
  • Design finalizing, digital prototyping (CNC)

Materials

• Plastics are polymeric materials that may contain other substances to improve performance and reduce cost
• Composite materials are made from two or more different materials with different properties, resulting in a new material with different properties than its original properties
• Nano technology is the manipulation of matter on an atomic, molecular, and supramolecular scale
• Materials can be classified into:
  • Plastics
  • Metals (ferrous and non-ferrous)
  • Woods (natural and man-made)
  • Textiles (fabric, silk, wool, etc.)
• Environmentally friendly materials consider:
  • Recycling
  • Renewable resources
  • Non-toxic and toxic materials

Choosing a Material

• Factors to consider when choosing a material:
  • Cost
  • Reliability
  • Electrical and mechanical properties
  • Ease of joining and fabrication
• Material performance requirements:
  • Functional requirements
  • Processability requirements
  • Cost (economical and environmental)
  • Reliability requirements
  • Resistance to service conditions

Context

• Context refers to everything that involves using the product
• Includes user's physical and psychological needs, space layout, lighting, weather, and surrounding objects
• Product context anticipates the user's needs when they are using the product

Material and Health

• When using plastic, it's essential to define its main chemical features
• Materials can have different properties, such as:
  • Anti-rust and anti-bacteria
  • Thermal conductor
  • Salt-resistant
  • Lightweight

Material and Shock

• Anti-shock considerations:
  • Portable and small objects
  • Crowded context
  • Characterized behaviors
  • Characterized jobs

Visual Culture

• Visual culture refers to everything that is seen or produced to be seen
• Examines how internal and external processes interact to produce the act of seeing a product
• Vision is affected by:
  • External factors (images, objects)
  • Internal factors (thoughts, experiences)

Visual Technology

• Visual technology refers to any device made to be looked at or to enhance natural vision
• Examples include paint and textures
• Texture can be:
  • Actual or illusory (mental) feel of a surface
  • Tactile (sensation of touch)
• Tactile categories:
  • Surface architecture
  • Surface temperature
  • Surface consistency conditions
  • Pressure resistance

Sustainable Design

• Sustainable design satisfies economic needs while protecting the planet's resources for future generations
• Sustainable design aspects:
  • Environmental
  • Economic
  • Social
• Principles of sustainable design:
  • Design backwards
  • Long-lasting
  • Local and social
  • Renewable
  • Repurpose materials
  • Recyclable
  • Biodegradable
  • Upgradeable

Recycled Materials

• Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into reusable objects
• Recycling benefits:
  • Reduces waste of potentially useful materials
  • Reduces greenhouse gas emissions
  • Cuts down on energy usage
  • Lowers consumption of raw materials
  • Lessens air and water pollution
• Recycling process:
  • Collect materials
  • Sort materials
  • Clean materials
  • Reprocess materials into new materials

Eco-Materials

• Eco-materials are materials that help enhance environmental improvement throughout the whole life cycle
• Main categories of eco-materials:
  • Cycle materials
  • Sustainable materials
  • Materials for ecology and environmental protection
  • Materials for society and human health

Designing with Composite Materials

• Composite materials are made from two or more different materials with different properties
• Composite materials are used to:
  • Raise performance levels
  • Address traditional design limitations
  • Develop new product solutions
• Composite materials are used in:
  • Aerospace
  • Military
  • Architecture
  • Critical industrial designs
  • Infrastructure

Nanotechnology and Smart Materials

• Nanotechnology is the ability to manipulate matter on an atomic, molecular, and supramolecular scale
• Smart materials are materials that can react to their environment in a controlled way
• Smart behavior:
  • When a material senses a signal from the environment and reacts to it in a useful manner
• Examples of smart materials:
  • Interactive architecture
  • Opaque glass
  • Disappearing ink

CNC (Computer Numerical Control)

• CNC uses a prepared program with coded data to control functions and movements of a machine tool
• Types of CNC machines:
  • CNC milling machines
  • CNC lathe machines
  • CNC routers
  • CNC plasma cutter
  • Electrical Discharge CNC Machines
• Advantages of CNC machines:
  • High accuracy in manufacturing
  • Short production time
  • Greater manufacturing flexibility
  • Simpler fixturing
  • Contour machining (2 to 5-axis machining)
  • Reduced human error and effort
• Disadvantages of CNC machines:
  • High cost
  • Maintenance is difficult
  • A skilled part programmer is required