Martyn Evans
Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester School of Art, Faculty Member
- Web: http://www.art.mmu.ac.uk/profile/mevans Twitter: http://twitter.com/martyn_evans I am a product designer, desig... moreWeb: http://www.art.mmu.ac.uk/profile/mevans
Twitter: http://twitter.com/martyn_evans
I am a product designer, design researcher, and design educator. My research interests explore the approaches designers use to consider the future, in particular the ability of designers to envision potential social, cultural, technological, and economic futures. My research activities centre on design futures, trends, and forecasting, and I have has published 75+ peer review articles in this area. I am currently Professor of Design and Head of Manchester School of Art Research Centre at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.
I am currently Principal Investigator on the AHRC funded Design Action Plan project which is developing an action plan for the strategic use of design in the UK in collaboration with the UK Design Council and Cardiff Metropolitan University. I was a lead investigator for Design For Europe project which will developed the European Design Innovation Platform over 3 years and aims to accelerate design-driven innovation in order to boost innovation, growth and job creation across the EU. I was also Principal Investigator for the AHRC funded (£768k) Design Routes project which explored the role of design in developing and revitalising culturally significant designs, products and practices in conjunction with Lancaster and Leeds Universities.
I’ve secured and supervised a number of government-funded knowledge transfer initiatives within the area of design and new product development. With extensive experience of leading undergraduate and postgraduate design curricula, I am external examiner at a number of UK institutions and have acted as an academic advisor for curriculum development both nationally and internationally.edit
The 18th academic conference hosted by the Design Management Institute (DMI) of Boston, Mass., attracted a greater number of papers than any previous conference. The event was intended to highlight the importance of the contribution of... more
The 18th academic conference hosted by the Design Management Institute (DMI) of Boston, Mass., attracted a greater number of papers than any previous conference. The event was intended to highlight the importance of the contribution of design to organisational effectiveness and success, particularly in the ways that it can improve the new product development process, contribute to better strategic thinking and decision-making, and be an important element in the leader¡¦s toolkit. The conference was a means for researchers and thinkers to celebrate the importance of design and to work towards becoming a credible and full participant in the work of organisations.
We were proud and deeply honoured to have Professor Roger Martin, Dean of the Rotman School of Business at the University of Toronto, as our keynote speaker. He has been an inspirational thinker and one of the foremost and most passionate advocates of the methodologies and thinking of design as important and under-utilised organisational resources.
Our goal was to create an inclusive conversation among academics from a variety of disciplines, including business (organizational behavior, strategy, marketing, and operations) and design management (design strategy, product design, brand identity,
communications, interactive design, user experience, architecture, and environmental design). We aimed to advance the state of the art in design management research, theory, and practice, and produce a significant contribution to this exciting and fast-developing
field.
Businesses are changing; manufacturers are becoming service providers and services are focusing increasingly on experiences. Organizations, in both the profit and the social sector, are seeking competitive advantage through innovation in their offerings, structure, processes, and business models. We believe that this was an appropriate time to convene a gathering of academics to take a critical look at how to bring a scholarly lens to the ways that design may help to both shape and implement innovation in these emerging developments.
The theme of the conference, Leading Innovation through Design, clearly attracted management theorists as well as well as design theorists, as it was intended to do. The conference organisers, in locating it close both physically and in terms of time alongside the
management community's main academic conference -the AOM- hoped to attract "mainstream" management researchers to contribute to the design management research conversation. The organisers believe that design management research has been undeservedly neglected by management theorists. The result was a large number of submissions of top quality, interesting, and rigorous papers. A total of 195 submissions were received from 36 countries and 133 universities and research institutes. These submissions were blind reviewed. Approximately 45% were accepted for presentation of full papers at the conference, and are published in these proceedings.
The conference was organised around these seven themes, and both full paper presentations and poster sessions were organised into these tracks:
- Innovations in Design Research Methodologies, Management Processes
- Bridging Research and Practice in the Management of Design
- Design-Led Innovation in Business Models
- Developing Design Thinking Skills
- Design-Led Innovation in Products and Services
- Design-Led Innovation in Organizations and the Workplace
- Innovations in Design Management Education
We would like to thank a number of people and organisations who have been helpful in organising the conference and preparing this set of proceedings. These include John Tobin, VP, Business Operations, from Design Management Institute who provided exceptional support in his role as Conference Secretary. We would like to thank Esther Dudley from Plymouth University, who encourage her students to produce artwork proposals for the conference identity, Sarah Essex whose design proposals were adopted, and every member of the International Scientific Review Committee who provided their time and expertise during the review process.
This was a truly international team effort by conference committee whose members were dispersed across the world.
We were proud and deeply honoured to have Professor Roger Martin, Dean of the Rotman School of Business at the University of Toronto, as our keynote speaker. He has been an inspirational thinker and one of the foremost and most passionate advocates of the methodologies and thinking of design as important and under-utilised organisational resources.
Our goal was to create an inclusive conversation among academics from a variety of disciplines, including business (organizational behavior, strategy, marketing, and operations) and design management (design strategy, product design, brand identity,
communications, interactive design, user experience, architecture, and environmental design). We aimed to advance the state of the art in design management research, theory, and practice, and produce a significant contribution to this exciting and fast-developing
field.
Businesses are changing; manufacturers are becoming service providers and services are focusing increasingly on experiences. Organizations, in both the profit and the social sector, are seeking competitive advantage through innovation in their offerings, structure, processes, and business models. We believe that this was an appropriate time to convene a gathering of academics to take a critical look at how to bring a scholarly lens to the ways that design may help to both shape and implement innovation in these emerging developments.
The theme of the conference, Leading Innovation through Design, clearly attracted management theorists as well as well as design theorists, as it was intended to do. The conference organisers, in locating it close both physically and in terms of time alongside the
management community's main academic conference -the AOM- hoped to attract "mainstream" management researchers to contribute to the design management research conversation. The organisers believe that design management research has been undeservedly neglected by management theorists. The result was a large number of submissions of top quality, interesting, and rigorous papers. A total of 195 submissions were received from 36 countries and 133 universities and research institutes. These submissions were blind reviewed. Approximately 45% were accepted for presentation of full papers at the conference, and are published in these proceedings.
The conference was organised around these seven themes, and both full paper presentations and poster sessions were organised into these tracks:
- Innovations in Design Research Methodologies, Management Processes
- Bridging Research and Practice in the Management of Design
- Design-Led Innovation in Business Models
- Developing Design Thinking Skills
- Design-Led Innovation in Products and Services
- Design-Led Innovation in Organizations and the Workplace
- Innovations in Design Management Education
We would like to thank a number of people and organisations who have been helpful in organising the conference and preparing this set of proceedings. These include John Tobin, VP, Business Operations, from Design Management Institute who provided exceptional support in his role as Conference Secretary. We would like to thank Esther Dudley from Plymouth University, who encourage her students to produce artwork proposals for the conference identity, Sarah Essex whose design proposals were adopted, and every member of the International Scientific Review Committee who provided their time and expertise during the review process.
This was a truly international team effort by conference committee whose members were dispersed across the world.
Research Interests: Business, Marketing, Business Administration, Design, Brand Management, and 13 moreStrategic Brand Management, International Business, Innovation statistics, Industrial Design, Business Process Management, Strategic Management, Graphic Design, Product Design, Design Innovation, International Marketing, New Product Development, Branding, and Business Management
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This paper addresses contemporary shifts in material production and material appreciation within a late-modern, increasingly digital, cultural milieu and demonstrates the values and growing recognition of heritage practices and products... more
This paper addresses contemporary shifts in material production and material appreciation within a late-modern, increasingly digital, cultural milieu and demonstrates the values and growing recognition of heritage practices and products in the UK. Our research for the Living Design Project, in Cumbria, UK, demonstrates a growing interest and international recognition of the importance of place-based traditions and the handmade, in a globalized, digital world. This paper explores the complex contrasts, contradictions and interrelationships among, on the one hand, tradition, place, culture and meaning and, on the other, economic growth and technology. Through interviews carried out with small and micro-enterprises we demonstrate that these ways of working are illustrative of values-based creative praxis rather than conventional design practice. These enterprises are manifestations of ways of working that recognise connections between theory and practice, and between the wise determination of ends and the means of attaining those ends (Heidegger, 1962, 409-10). Drawing on Gadamer’s (1989) interpretive methods, Godzeiba describes praxis as “action based on reflection that changes the situation for the better” (Godzeiba, 2014). This work explores the role of the creative activities in fostering principles that are environmental, ethical, social, economic and political (Honderlich, 1995, 1804). Research findings suggest the praxes of makers interviewed embody values that promote positive personal, social and environmental modes of living through engaging with traditional making methods and use of materials, which are deeply embedded within place. Our research explores ways in which such praxes and values can be recognised, valued and sustained, and as such can be developed into a model for ethically responsible contemporary design.
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This paper describes AHRC-funded research that explores design’s role in developing and revitalising culturally significant designs, products and practices. Although such designs, products and practices are often seen as being out of step... more
This paper describes AHRC-funded research that explores design’s role in developing and revitalising culturally significant designs, products and practices. Although such designs, products and practices are often seen as being out of step with contemporary society, they have rich historical links with communities and cultures and have much to offer for the future in terms of sustainability, cultural identity and wellbeing (Gould 2001). This research employs design-led methods to determine if and how design can make a meaningful contribution to this revitalization effort. In particular, we focus on creative ecologies that are rooted to place, where culturally significant designs, products and practices emerge from placebased communities.
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The strategic use of design at the national level to drive economic and societal impact benefits from coordinated activities that integrate and apply key stakeholder agendas. This study is part of a large research project that aims to... more
The strategic use of design at the national level to drive economic and societal impact benefits from coordinated activities that integrate and apply key stakeholder agendas. This study is part of a large research project that aims to develop an integrated action plan for design in the UK, generating insights that go beyond existing approaches in order to achieve greater recognition and application of design as a strategic driver of innovation. Drawing upon Nagy and Fawcett (2003) ‘VMOSA’ strategic planning process, the paper systematically analyses six European Design Action Plans (DAPs) to better understanding the key components required of action plans. The analysis demonstrates that while DAPs vary significantly in their format, structure and articulation of actions, the insights generated directly inform understanding of how these plans can effectively support the strategic use of design in the public and private sectors in the UK.
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Abstract Design management in the UK has developed significantly since the early 1990s, with design managers now operating across both design consultancies and within businesses. These organizations operate in a dynamic global... more
Abstract Design management in the UK has developed significantly since the early 1990s, with design managers now operating across both design consultancies and within businesses. These organizations operate in a dynamic global environment; as such it is ...
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Through active involvement in UNESCO’s ICH (Intangible Cultural Heritage) programme, China has developed its own framework to support traditional making practices. To examine the ‘characteristics’ of heritage crafts preservation in China,... more
Through active involvement in UNESCO’s ICH (Intangible Cultural Heritage) programme, China has developed its own framework to support traditional making practices. To examine the ‘characteristics’ of heritage crafts preservation in China, we undertook empirical research in the Yellow River basin. Our research involved in-depth observations and key informant interviews with a range of highly accomplished craftspeople who have inherited their particular expertise from their family and have been officially designated ICH Inheritors. Through our qualitative research with inheritors, a businessperson and a government official, we identified various support mechanisms employed by the Chinese government that aim to protect traditional culture while also recognising outstanding individuals. We also found that ICH Inheritors play an important role in raising cultural awareness and enhancing cultural confidence through their creative activities and making practices, craft businesses and trans...
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This paper examines traditional chok weaving in Northern Thailand and makes recommendations about how design can contribute to its viable future while maintaining its cultural significance. This research is the culmination of extensive... more
This paper examines traditional chok weaving in Northern Thailand and makes recommendations about how design can contribute to its viable future while maintaining its cultural significance. This research is the culmination of extensive field research, comprising interviews, observations, and follow-up validations. The following includes background and context, especially with respect to the relationships between craft, design, and sustainability, looking specifically at the Quadruple Bottom Line of Design for Sustainability, which takes a holistic approach to the issues. The specific area for the fieldwork is also identified and described. Following this, the methodology is introduced along with the development of criteria for selecting case studies. After describing the data collection, analysis and validation, these findings are developed, and key recommendations are described and presented as components within an overall framework. This leads to a series of outputs in the form of...
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The objective of this study is to examine the future of the UK design industry. It aims to identify challenges and opportunities facing the UK design industry over the next decade and to develop a framework to signpost and support change.... more
The objective of this study is to examine the future of the UK design industry. It aims to identify challenges and opportunities facing the UK design industry over the next decade and to develop a framework to signpost and support change. The project focuses on the UK design consultancy sector, with specific reference to brand and corporate identity, multimedia, new product development, packaging, and service design. The project does not consider designer-makers or craft-based designers. Research has been conducted in two stages. The first involved a review of literature and focus group research, which identified key issues and concerns within the sector, and has informed the development of a conceptual framework and scenario tools. A second stage involved interviews and focus groups with three sets of stakeholders: (i) design practitioners and design consultancies, (ii) design buyers/clients (including both private and public sectors), (iii) design policymakers and design educators...
Research Interests: Engineering and Craft
This article explores the relationship between design for sustainability and traditional making practices. It presents results from key informant interviews and observational research into traditional hand making of functional goods in... more
This article explores the relationship between design for sustainability and traditional making practices. It presents results from key informant interviews and observational research into traditional hand making of functional goods in Santa Fe in the United States, Jingdezhen, China, various locations in New South Wales, Australia and Cumbria, United Kingdom. We find that such goods fall into three main categories, primarily utilitarian, symbolic and aesthetic. These practices are discussed in terms of their contemporary relevance, potential futures and relationship to current understandings of sustainability. More specifically, they are considered against the four elements of the Quadruple Bottom Line of Design for Sustainability (Walker 2014), a rigorous interpretation extended from the philosophy of Hick (1989), which comprises: practical meaning including environmental impacts; social meaning; personal meaning; and economic means. The originality of this research lies in the de...
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This article presents an investigation into understanding the role of design and designers when managing creative brand strategies for social media, and was conducted in Portugal and the United Kingdom during 2011–12. It combines results... more
This article presents an investigation into understanding the role of design and designers when managing creative brand strategies for social media, and was conducted in Portugal and the United Kingdom during 2011–12. It combines results from an online survey (103 participants) and interviews (21 interviews) regarding the role of design in branding for social media. Based on the results, two models were elaborated; these models allow the integration of a social media strategy by adding to the existing design ladder model. Model validation was achieved by an online survey (30 responses) completed by a panel of experts. Three different research domains were considered for this study: namely branding, design and social media. With regard to branding, we opted to focus on the branding literature that is concerned with strategic brand management, as well as social marketing management literature. Concerning design, we focused on its importance to both branding and social media, while als...
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In recent years, there has been a growing discourse regarding the emergence of a new role for design, one that involves design thinking and design-driven innovation. This new role affirms design integration into the all the organisational... more
In recent years, there has been a growing discourse regarding the emergence of a new role for design, one that involves design thinking and design-driven innovation. This new role affirms design integration into the all the organisational activities required for strategic deployment. However, there has been little research looking at how such approaches are employed and can influence the transformation of culture within a specific industry situation. According to the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry status quo, organisations demand fuel to ignite the transformation of brand development. Therefore, the main argument of this paper involves diagnosing the current phenomena by comparing the literature and practice in the FMCG industry. The findings from a comparative analysis explain how an organisation can embrace design-driven approaches in its brand development system. This paper contributes to developing brands in the FMCG industry through integration with design-driven ap...
Social Media is becoming increasingly important as a global information space, holding more than a billion users, it is transforming the way we interact with everything. Little has been said about the importance of Design as a research... more
Social Media is becoming increasingly important as a global information space, holding more than a billion users, it is transforming the way we interact with everything. Little has been said about the importance of Design as a research tool in social media and its influence on how we communicate with brands and markets by shaping it into a different and new type of market, that both users and brands are trying to understand. A lot has been researched about social media: what is it used for, what companies can gain from using it, how to engage with costumers in social media, different social media strategies one can use. However, design and designers have been ‘left out’ of the often vague and dispersed literature. This paper aims to collect that information in the form of a literature review, followed by an online survey done with design and marketing experts. Aiming to clarify these two areas: social media and design management and possibly enrich future research.
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Designers are required to research and develop products and services that will be desired by consumers. These proposals are often for a future where things that we take for granted today, may not be present in the form we currently... more
Designers are required to research and develop products and services that will be desired by consumers. These proposals are often for a future where things that we take for granted today, may not be present in the form we currently understand or expect. The development of future products and services require designers to establish reference points that will transcend time. These reference points need to be as culturally universal as possible.
Design education and industry can benefit greatly from collaboration. This paper discusses mechanisms of knowledge transfer through collaborative research, between academia and industry. It focuses upon the area of product and industrial... more
Design education and industry can benefit greatly from collaboration. This paper discusses mechanisms of knowledge transfer through collaborative research, between academia and industry. It focuses upon the area of product and industrial design, detailing approaches to open innovation where industry and academia collaborate and form successful partnerships. Through case studies, it identifies how academia can facilitate knowledge transfer between numerous industries and across disparate market sectors. It concludes with an overview of the potential benefits to collaborators.
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This paper presents initial findings from an ongoing research project that explores opportunities for design to contribute to a sustainable future for the craft industry. The research asks “Are there potential areas for design to make a... more
This paper presents initial findings from an ongoing research project that explores opportunities for design to contribute to a sustainable future for the craft industry. The research asks “Are there potential areas for design to make a positive contribution to the craft industry in upper northern Thailand to help ensure its viable future, and if so, in what areas can design best contribute?” The research consists of three main components: (i) background research into crafts; (ii) identification of a specific study site; (iii) investigation of craft practices, products and issues of concern in the context of the study site. Background research includes: persistence of crafts in a period of Mass Production; principles of craft today; genres of crafts; relationship of crafts with tradition and design. The upper northern region of Thailand is identified as a major craft production area, with historical, cultural and socio-economic significance. Craft in this region are classified and t...
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Much research has been conducted into the content of design curricula yet limited research has been undertaken into how early career design professionals view their undergraduate studies, and in turn if this experience adequately prepares... more
Much research has been conducted into the content of design curricula yet limited research has been undertaken into how early career design professionals view their undergraduate studies, and in turn if this experience adequately prepares them for entry into the design industry. Research often discusses industry expectations of design education in the context of a lack of satisfaction with the skills and knowledge of recent graduates; while design industry professionals cite the over-supply of poor quality graduates as undermining the sustainability of the industry. Yet there seems to be little engagement by industry professions into the actual content and nature of design curricula. Building on and significantly extending prior research conducted by the authors, this paper explores the relationship between product design curricula and the professional practice of design. The authors consult with design industry employers to gain insight into both the perceptions and realities of co...
Over the last decade, design for behaviour change has become increasingly recognised as a strategy for enabling social change. Despite this, we are far from understanding its implementation, especially through the private and public... more
Over the last decade, design for behaviour change has become increasingly recognised as a strategy for enabling social change. Despite this, we are far from understanding its implementation, especially through the private and public sectors. This study has surveyed private and public sector stakeholders with regard to their current knowledge of, and approach to, design for behaviour change. The aim was to identify the challenges for professional stakeholders in understanding, accessing and implementing design for behaviour change. Underpinned by a literature review of design for behaviour change theories and approaches, an online survey and two focus groups with private and public sector stakeholders were conducted with particular focus on small and medium size enterprises (SMEs). The results identified that there is a significant disconnect between available theoretical knowledge of design for behaviour change and its practical implementation. Reasons for this include a lack of awa...
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The 18th academic conference hosted by the Design Management Institute (DMI) of Boston, Mass., attracted a greater number of papers than any previous conference. The event was intended to highlight the importance of the contribution of... more
The 18th academic conference hosted by the Design Management Institute (DMI) of Boston, Mass., attracted a greater number of papers than any previous conference. The event was intended to highlight the importance of the contribution of design to organisational effectiveness and success, particularly in the ways that it can improve the new product development process,contribute to better strategic thinking and decision-making, and be an important element in the leader’s toolkit. The conference was a means for researchers and thinkers to celebrate the importance of design and to work towards becoming a credible and full participant in the work of organisations.We were proud and deeply honoured to have Professor Roger Martin, Dean of the Rotman School of Business at the University of Toronto, as our keynote speaker. He has been an inspirational thinker and one of the foremost and most passionate advocates of the methodologies and thinking of design as important and under-utilised organ...
Research Interests: Business, Marketing, Business Administration, Engineering, Design, and 15 moreBrand Management, Strategic Brand Management, International Business, Innovation statistics, Industrial Design, Business Process Management, Strategic Management, Graphic Design, Product Design, Design Innovation, International Marketing, New Product Development, Branding, Business Management, and Innovation
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CONNECTED 2010 2ND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON DESIGN EDUCATION 28 JUNE - 1 JULY 2010 ... This aligns with underpinning concepts of contemporary design and its link to wicked ... Research into design presents challenges for postgraduate... more
CONNECTED 2010 2ND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON DESIGN EDUCATION 28 JUNE - 1 JULY 2010 ... This aligns with underpinning concepts of contemporary design and its link to wicked ... Research into design presents challenges for postgraduate design candidates ...
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This paper presents initial findings from an ongoing research project that explores opportunities for design to contribute to a sustainable future for the craft industry. The research asks “Are there potential areas for design to make a... more
This paper presents initial findings from an ongoing research project that explores opportunities for design to contribute to a sustainable future for the craft industry. The research asks “Are there potential areas for design to make a positive contribution to the craft industry in upper northern Thailand to help ensure its viable future, and if so, in what areas can design best contribute?” The research consists of three main components: (i) background research into crafts; (ii) identification of a specific study site; (iii) investigation of craft practices, products and issues of concern in the context of the study site. Background research includes: persistence of crafts in a period of Mass Production; principles of craft today; genres of crafts; relationship of crafts with tradition and design. The upper northern region of Thailand is identified as a major craft production area, with historical, cultural and socio-economic significance. Craft in this region are classified and t...
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Design education needs to recognise the changing world it services. The way that we live our lives is very different to that of our parents. No doubt the way our children will live their lives will be very different to ours. We exist in... more
Design education needs to recognise the changing world it services. The way that we live our lives is very different to that of our parents. No doubt the way our children will live their lives will be very different to ours. We exist in an ever changing world. Design education must recognise this constant change and develop long term strategies that enable designers to not only be aware of, but play a major role in this change. Futures thinking – the systematic study of the future – provides design with a structured approach to consider potential futures.
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An understanding of the opportunities offered by new and rapidly developing manufacturing technologies is essential to successful new product development. Designers, be they students or those in the early stages of their career, need to... more
An understanding of the opportunities offered by new and rapidly developing manufacturing technologies is essential to successful new product development. Designers, be they students or those in the early stages of their career, need to understand the potential that such technologies offer. Depending upon the nature of their curriculum and the norms of the sector in which they become employed, the level of knowledge of new manufacturing technologies varies greatly amongst students and graduate designers. Creative businesses for example often find themselves at a disadvantage compared to more technically-focused sectors when it comes to knowledge about new manufacturing technologies. This can lead to creative businesses not recognising the potential advantages that such technology offers. This paper identifies the challenges facing designers, operating in/for creative businesses, when considering adopting Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies and identifies strategies to assist th...
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This paper presents case studies documenting how the area of Product Design within the School of Art & Design at the University of Salford has engaged in industrial collaboration on a national and international scale. A key approach... more
This paper presents case studies documenting how the area of Product Design within the School of Art & Design at the University of Salford has engaged in industrial collaboration on a national and international scale. A key approach utilised has been to centre these activities around the framework of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships [KTP] formally known as Teaching Company Schemes (TCS). For the sake of brevity we will refer to TCS as KTP from hereinon. This has enabled a number of fruitful relationships with appropriate industrial partners to be established. In presenting these case studies the authors aim to establish a link between KTP programmes and how they can provide additional outcomes including staff placements, student placements and student projects. The benefits of these activities extend beyond the boundaries of the KTP programme and provide ‘real world’ input into the world of product design education. In turn, product design theories can be utilised as a valuable resou...
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This paper presents findings from the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council funded project Living Design: The Effective Use of Design for Sustainability in Small Maker Enterprises. The project examines enterprises that, for various... more
This paper presents findings from the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council funded project Living Design: The Effective Use of Design for Sustainability in Small Maker Enterprises. The project examines enterprises that, for various reasons, are deeply rooted in ‘place’. These kinds of enterprises often continue long-established traditional practices but, today, they are frequently in decline. Ironically, this decline is occurring at the very time there is renewed interest in such practices, which are associated with heritage, provenance, authenticity and cultural identity. Here we present evidence-based findings and the emergence of a concept we have termed Located Making, which recognizes the connection of these practices to the place and culture in which they operate. Our research identifies factors that may help – or hinder – such enterprises, as well as areas where design can make a contribution to ensure resilience commensurate with design for sustainability. Through its robu...
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This paper outlines an approach for deconstructing product semantics into a language that is appropriate for design education. The author's evidence that this enables students to articulate design problems in a new way; to engage in... more
This paper outlines an approach for deconstructing product semantics into a language that is appropriate for design education. The author's evidence that this enables students to articulate design problems in a new way; to engage in research about the meanings their designs might have for others; and to enhance their ability to defend their proposals in the face of competing discourses. Case studies and examples of student engagement are presented and discussed. The complex subject of product semantics - the study of the symbolic qualities of man made forms in the cognitive and social contexts of their use and the application of the knowledge gained to industrial design - was introduced to design discourse in the 1980s (1). Its popularisation opened up an area that is wholly relevant to contemporary design practice. With advancements in technology, the form of objects is no longer driven by the technologies within them. Traditional modes of understanding for the product's ex...
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Within the design industry there has been much promotion of how designers can engage with future oriented projects yet, there has been little investigation within academic design research of the methods employed. In some ways much of the... more
Within the design industry there has been much promotion of how designers can engage with future oriented projects yet, there has been little investigation within academic design research of the methods employed. In some ways much of the discourse coming out of design practice is commercial propaganda - with the sole aim of generating new business. The design industry is good at communicating what future focussed services it is able to offer yet the methods employed are shrouded in a similar level of mystery (and scepticism) as those employed by a magician or shaman. Commercial sensitivities mean that the design industry is good as say what they can do in terms of creating future oriented ‘next-next generation’ products and services yet they do not convey how this is achieved with the same level of enthusiasm. A design led futures framework is presented to support designers in the development of next-next generation products (and services) and provides a mechanism to underpin future...
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This paper considers students’ experience of product design education, and explores their expectations of working in the design industry. It provides a contextualisation of recent initiatives that call for increased emphasis upon the... more
This paper considers students’ experience of product design education, and explores their expectations of working in the design industry. It provides a contextualisation of recent initiatives that call for increased emphasis upon the commercial awareness of design within the curriculum. Evidence of the ‘disconnect’ between students’ perceptions of design practice and the increasing demands from the industry are detailed.
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This paper considers the particular development needs of information appliances (PDA's, mobile phones,...). It proposes an approach that provides designers the opportunity to not only design and develop future information appliances,... more
This paper considers the particular development needs of information appliances (PDA's, mobile phones,...). It proposes an approach that provides designers the opportunity to not only design and develop future information appliances, but to take these proposals out to potential consumers and test their concepts. The challenge of information appliances development is discussed-rapid technological development that is so rapid, that at times it is simply not possible to get the right product to the right market in a form that consumers desire before it is superseded. Going beyond this, innovators need to uncover new opportunities by exploring peoples unmet and unarticulated needs. Ethnographic observational research supports this inquiry well.