84611 Integrated Product Design

Description

In the 21st century, products are increasingly encountered as integrated elements within larger systems. Two important contexts within which products are thought of as integrated, rather than independent, are the Internet of Things and product-service systems. As smart technologies become more ubiquitous, the Internet of Things and product-service systems are often blended in smart, product-based systems that support the delivery of essential and everyday services. Within a service economy, the design of smart and integrated product-service systems is a significant part of product design practice.

This subject introduces students to the challenges of designing an integrated product-service system. Building on experience of product design and service design (introduced through separate studios in 84610 Inside Design), this subject steps students through a design process to meet the requirements of an integrated product design brief.

The focus of this subject is the process of designing to meet an integrated product design brief. The process taught is based on the double-diamond design thinking process articulated by the British Design Council. As this is an introductory subject, designs produced are propositional rather than resolved. The subject does not provide a technical training in the design of integrated products. Rather, students are introduced to the thinking process of the designer that supports the generation of propositions for an integrated product design.