MATERIAL SELECTION IN INDUSTRIAL DESIGN EDUCATION – A LITERATURE REVIEW
Year: 2016
Editor: Erik Bohemia, Ahmed Kovacevic, Lyndon Buck, Christian Tollestrup, Kaare Eriksen, Nis Ovesen
Author: Sӧrensen, Charlotte Asbjørn; Jagtap, Santosh; Warell, Anders
Series: E&PDE
Institution: 1Lund University, 2Malmö University
Section: Exploration
Page(s): 708-713
ISBN: 978-1-904670-62-9
Abstract
This study reviews literature on the aspects of material selection within the field of industrial design
education, specifically focusing on existing material selection tools and guidelines used in industrial
design education. The growing number of materials available today has created a large variety of
options for industrial designers, which they are ill-equipped to handle. A key reason behind this is that
industrial designers lack appropriate education in material selection. There is a large body of research
in the field of mechanical engineering, examining the material selection process of mechanical
engineers. There are differences in material selection activities of mechanical engineers and industrial
designers, based on their information requirements during different stages of the design process.
Recent research highlights a need to merge the perspectives of engineering and industrial design for
teaching the subject of material selection in industrial design education at tertiary level [1]-[3].
Industrial designers have unique skills to combine technical properties and intangible characteristics of
materials in the product development process. Design students need to learn how to act as
ambassadors of the intangible material characteristics in material selection processes in
interdisciplinary teams. This paper suggests an approach that prepares the students to work both on
inspirational and analytical levels in material selection processes.
Keywords: Design education, material selection, material experiences, product design.