Experience Concepts as a Tool for Fuzzy-Frontend in Engineering Design
Year: 2009
Editor: Norell Bergendahl, M.; Grimheden, M.; Leifer, L.; Skogstad, P.; Lindemann, U.
Author: Krzywinski, Jens; Drechsel, Frank; Woelfel, Christian
Series: ICED
Section: Design Methods and Tools
Page(s): 381-392
Abstract
This paper aims to answer the question, to what extent industrial design methods are suitable for the use in the frontend of engineering design processes. The main focus is on the conceptual design stage. Based on a study within transportation design, a definition of experience concepts is suggested, the contained elements are described as well as processes to its development are represented. This experience-oriented concept understanding forms the basis for applications within the development of mainly technically oriented products such as wheel loader and textile or packaging machines. Further, it is successfully transferred in a workshop program, which was tested with engineering students in 2007/08. The results of these ongoing studies are discussed regarding a general integrated appliance of experience concepts in engineering design. Finally, proposals for a natural integration in education and practice are developed as well as an approach for a collective research project from industrial and engineering designers studying methods in early phases are presented.
Keywords: industrial design, conceptualization, experience