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Thursday, November 19, 2009

Waht are the Basics of Industrial Design

By Willy Bernabe

Industrial design is often defined as the combined use of knowledge of both art and science to enhance the function and appearance of an item and make it more appealing for customers. It can be used before a product is officially launched or later for enhancing the quality of the product.

The target of industrial design is building a favourable impression of the item. It is all about enhancing a product's value in the mind of the consumers and so they associate themselves with the product. Such a result can be achieved by making important additions to the utility or the looks of the product, which enables the product to influence the customers to purchase it.

This requires a comprehensive study into the patterns of consumer habits, which can then be considered by the designers of the product. This step is then followed by sketching, making models, sampling and comprehensive testing before launch of the product in the market. These days, 3D software is employed to accomplish several of these tasks, and CAD applications are of great help to designers.

Industrial designing essentially concentrates on the overall texture and shape of a product. Designers need to concentrate upon a number of factors other than the looks of the product. These include durability, utility, ergonomics and the convenience of usage of the product. Moreover, a designer can also successfully decrease the expenditure on production by introducing more cost effective designs.

Industrial design also encompasses other aspects such as product packaging, study of a buyer's psychological reaction towards a product, and his or her level of sentimental attachment to the item. That is why industrial designers go through years of extensive training prior to working on a real product.

Some of the illustrious names in the profession are those of Brooks Stevens, the original designer of the Harley-Davidson motorbike, Raymond Loewy, who rose to fame with the Coca-Cola bottle and Jonathan Ive, the famous designer of the iMac.

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