Product Design Overview

Introduction

• We live in a designed world.
• Products, spaces, systems, services and experiences are designed to address the needs and wants of people.
• Product designers are responsible for developing and creating products that meet human needs.

Product Design Process

• Typically involves generating ideas, developing concepts, product testing, manufacturing, and implementation.
• Product designers draw on many disciplines including marketing, management, design, engineering, art, science and commerce.

Product Design Categories

• Furniture, graphics, industrial, fashion, lighting.
• Products can range from consumer goods to environmental objects.

Role of Product Design

• Enriching the quality of life at home, at work, and in commercial activity.
• Helps businesses create and sell products.
• Meets unmet needs, improves functionality, appearance, and provides new ways to engage with objects.

Technological Advancements in Product Design

• 4D printing and innovative materials such as composites.

Industrial Revolution and Product Design

• Mass production and new manufacturing processes emerged, altering the design landscape.
• Product development activities saw the integration of designers, design thinking, and design processes.

Strategic Tools for Product Design

• Products should be usable, attractive, reliable, cost-effective, and emotionally engaging.

Client-Designer Relationships

• Designers navigate a complex landscape of client needs and expectations with design freedom and flexibility.

Categories of Product Design

• Routine: All design information is provided.
• Variant: Some aspects of design are open to development.
• Creative: Requires invention and novel solutions.

Types of Products

• Products exist on a spectrum and often overlap in classification.

Consumer Products

• The largest category where designers directly contribute.
• Examples include: lighting, domestic appliances, medical equipment, audio-video equipment, office equipment, motor cars, personal computers, and furniture.

Consumer Products (C.P) Functionality

• C.P. design considers:
  • Functional requirements
  • Aesthetics
  • Cost-effectiveness for both the client and customer
  • Brand value

One-Off Artistic Works

• Some classic designed products are considered works of art.
  • Examples include iPod, Coca-Cola bottle, Beetle car.
• Designers create one-off pieces for design shows.
  • Appearance is prioritized over functionality.

Z.Island Kitchen

• Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects in 2006, a radical kitchen design that features intelligent technology.

The Tournament Chess Set

• Designed by Jamie Hayon in 2009, a ceramic chess set launched at the London Design Festival.

Packaging, Branding, Advertising, and Marketing

• Product designers can be involved in designing packaging and promoting products.

Stock Items

• Examples include motor oil brands, packaged butter, fizzy drinks, rolled sections, bar stock plastic, woven sheets, embossing, parts of aircraft engines.

Large-Scale Products

• Examples: Airbus A380 passenger jet, industrial workstations, earth-moving machinery, bespoke tooling, specialized manufacturing machinery, purified water filling plant, electric power station for cars, and telephone networks.

Problem-Solving

• Product design typically involves addressing a problem statement set by a client or initiated in-house.
• Solutions are judged according to set goals, constraints, and criteria.