Materials and Design: Selection Process

Materials and Design: Material Selection Process

• The material selection process begins with identifying market needs, followed by concept development and detailed design to a final product specification.
• The initial step involves a broad range of materials (approximately 100,000).
• Technical constraints and industrial design constraints narrow down the potential materials to a manageable number for detailed exploration.
• Designing a product involves choosing from a vast pool of potential materials to meet specific criteria.

Material Selection Methods

• Material selection occurs through analysis, synthesis, similarity, and inspiration.
• Analysis involves examining the specific technical requirements of the product.
• Synthesis entails combining materials to create a desired outcome.
• Similarity considers materials with analogous properties.
• Inspiration uses existing products and experiences as a guide to new possibilities.
• Databases of existing materials and products assist the selection process.

Design Requirements

• Criteria such as technical, economic, sustainability, aesthetic considerations, perception, and intentions guide the material selection process.

Product Aesthetics

• Product aesthetics encompasses vision (shape, color, texture), touch, taste, scent, and hearing.
• These factors influence customer perception of the product.
• Visible attributes relate to the customer's reaction to the material or product (e.g., sophisticated or ridiculous).
• Emotional attributes define the feelings evoked by the product (e.g., happy, sad, or threatened).
• Association attributes connect the product to time, place, events, persons, or cultures.

Design Process

• The design process starts with conceptualizing new ideas, such as a light bulb or a compact mobile phone.
• Subsequently, adaptation from existing designs is common, focusing on enhancing the original structure.
• Design iterates via "bubbles" from initial to final design.

The Life Cycle of Material

• Ore and feedstock is mined and processed.
• Manufacturing a product consumes energy and resources.
• At the end of a product's life, the material is either discarded or recycled.
• Refining synthetic materials is an energy-intensive process.
• Global population increase and increased affluence drive greater demand for materials and energy.
• Consumers play a key role in the process.

Material Optimization Advantages

• Material reduction leads to a decrease in product weight
• Might result in lower material costs

Material Evolution

• Technology, environmental factors, investment climate, and industrial design influence material evolution.
• This leads to changes in material choices for specific product types (e.g., kettles—from cast iron to brass to stainless steel to polypropylene).

New Technologies & Materials

• Scientific advancements result in new technologies.
• These new technologies in turn impact available materials and processes.
• New materials and processes create opportunities for innovation and diverse applications in product design.
• New technologies enhance material properties (e.g.,lightweight, lower cost, longer life, new functionality, low environmental impact).

Positive Feedback

• The interaction of material research, suppliers, and designers produces positive feedback.
• Customer feedback is critical for ensuring the selected material functions effectively throughout the product's life cycle.

Material Libraries and Collections

• Libraries like Material ConneXion, the Materials library, and others (listed in the provided slides) store material samples.
• These libraries help in research and design.

Creativity in Design

• Brainstorming, sketching (using CAD), model-making, and prototyping are crucial creative processes.
• Testing is an essential stage in the design process to validate material selection and performance.

Explore the intricate material selection process crucial in product design. This quiz delves into identifying market needs, defining technical constraints, and exploring various selection methods like analysis, synthesis, and inspiration. Test your knowledge on how to choose the right materials from a vast array to meet specific design criteria.