Design techniques and principles

Aesthetics and Visuals

Form over function: This principle states that the aesthetics and visual appeal of a product may be considered more important than its actual utility.
Industrial design: This involves integrating aesthetics and functionality in product design to enhance user experience and marketability.
Colour theory: Understanding this theory is important for creating visually appealing products. It involves studying the meaning of different colours and how they can be combined effectively.
Typography: This is essential for product labels and packaging design. Different fonts evoke different feelings and moods, enabling communication of a brand’s personality.
Semiotics: Studying signs and symbols aids in designing logos and other visual elements of a product.

Anthropometry: This involves studying human body measurements to design products that fit the physical needs of users.
Human factors engineering: This encompasses designing products that align with the physical and psychological capabilities of the user, maximizing their efficiency and satisfaction.
Universal design: This principle highlights the importance of designing products that are accessible and usable by individuals with a wide range of abilities, disabilities, and other characteristics.
Inclusive design: Like universal design, this principle is about ensuring products meet the needs of all users, regardless of age, ability, or other factors.

Life cycle assessment (LCA): This is the process of evaluating the environmental impacts of a product or service over its entire life span.
Cradle to cradle (C2C): Unlike traditional cradle to grave (C2G), C2C emphasizes the cyclical nature of materials, designing products so that their components can be reused or recycled after their life span.
Design for disassembly (DfD): Planning ahead for a product’s end of life, this design principle helps create products that can be easily disassembled to recycle or process materials.

Material selection: This involves opting for materials that suit the desired qualities of the end product - be it strength, flexibility, durability, aesthetic appeal, or more.
Material properties: Understanding how different materials behave under different conditions is fundamental - e.g., how they react to heat, cold, pressure, or tension.
Biodegradable materials: These materials can be broken down by natural processes, offering a more environmentally friendly option for disposal at a product’s end of life.

CAD/CAM: Computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing are invaluable tools for developing and refining a design, and for creating prototype or final products.
Injection moulding: This common manufacturing process is used to produce parts in large volumes. A mould is filled with a molten material which cools and hardens to form the desired shape.
3D printing: Also known as additive manufacturing, this process builds a three-dimensional object from a digital file, adding layers of material until the object takes shape.
Lean manufacturing: This principle works towards minimizing waste within manufacturing systems while simultaneously maximizing productivity.