Meeting 7

Chapter 5
Industrial Design
1. Read the text, then answer some questions
Industrial design is an applied art, whereby the aesthetics and usability of products may be improved
for marketability and production. The role of an industrial designer is to create and execute design
solutions towards problems of engineering, usability, marketing, brand development and sales.
Industrial designers are a cross between a mechanical engineer and an artist. They study both function
and form, and the connection between product and the user. They do not design the gears or motors
that make machines move, or the circuits that control the movement. And usually, they partner with
engineers and marketers, to identify and fulfil needs, wants and expectations.
Industrial design is 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.
Although the process of design may be considered ‘creative’, many analytical processes also take
place. In fact, many industrial designers often use various design methodologies in their creative
process. Some of the processes that are commonly used are user research, sketching, comparative
product research, model making, prototyping and testing. These processes can be chronological, or as
best defined by the designers and other team members. Industrial designers often utilize 3D software,
computer-aided industrial design and CAD programs to move from concept to production. Product
characteristics specified by the industrial designer may include the overall form of the object, the
location of details with respect to one another, colours, texture, sounds, and aspects concerning the
use of the product ergonomics. Additionally the industrial designer may specify aspects concerning
the production process, choice of materials and the way the product is presented to the consumer at
the point of sale. The use of industrial designers in a product development process may lead to added
values by improved usability, lowered production costs and more appealing products. However, some
classic industrial designs are considered as much works of art as works of engineering: the iPod,
Coke bottle, and VW Beetle are frequently-cited examples.
Industrial design has no focus on technical concepts, products and processes. In addition to
considering aesthetics, usability and ergonomics, it can also encompass the engineering of objects,
usefulness as well as usability, market placement, and other concerns as seduction, psychology and
the affectionate attachment of the user to the object. These values and accompanying aspects on
which industrial design is based can vary, both between different schools of thought and among
practicing designers.
Product design and industrial design can overlap into the fields of user interface design, information
design and interaction design. Various schools of industrial design and product design may specialize
in one of these aspects, ranging from pure art colleges to mixed programs of engineering and design,
to related disciplines like exhibit design and interior design.
II. Answer the questions:
1) What’s the main role of industrial designers?
2) Why can industrial design be considered both engineering and art?
3) What sort of problems does industrial design solve?
4) Which analytical processes take place in design?
5) Why is it vital for a designer to have computer skills?
6) What role do industrial designers play in a product development process?
7) What features of a product do they take into consideration?
III. Give True or false for each Sentence!
1) Industrial design has nothing in common with art.
2) Industrial designers study only function and form.
3) Industrial designers considerably improve a product development process.
4) Industrial design’s main concern is technical aspect of the product.
5) Industrial design, like any other type of design, is a purely creative process.

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Chapter 5

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