Introduction to Industrial Design
Definitions of Industrial Design
Tomas Maldonado: Industrial design is the activity of creating projects that determine the formal properties of objects produced through industrial manufacturing processes. These properties encompass not only external aesthetics but also functional and structural relationships, ensuring a coherent object from both the producer’s and user’s perspectives.
N. Chaves: Design is the discipline responsible for imbuing industrial products with explicit symbolic value, representing the culture of industry. Through design, any technological or utilitarian preparation becomes the foundation for a meaningful symbolic proposal.
Isabel Fields: Design involves creating symbolic proposals based on functional and technological data:
- Elaborating proposals: This entails creating symbolic forms with aesthetic content, placing the designer’s work within the realm of creation.
- Considering function and technology: Designers don’t work in a vacuum; they consider the intended function or practical use of the design and the technology required for its construction.
Formal Properties:
- Functional or practical
- Formal or aesthetic
- Technological
- Economic
Artisans vs. Industrial Production
Artisans: Create unique and irreplaceable pieces, possessing mastery of technique, production control, and often handling sales. During the 17th century, European furniture, textile, and porcelain production reached exceptional levels of craftsmanship.
Industrial Production: Involves project managers (entrepreneurs or editors), product configuration (designers), human mechanics (materialization), and distributors (retailers).
Design Skills and Professionals
Norman Potter defines design capacity as the integration of skills, environmental knowledge, comprehension, and imagination, solidified through experience.
Types of Design Professionals:
- Space Design: Encompasses interior design (domestic and commercial), exhibition stand design, scenography, and window dressing.
- Industrial Design: Focuses on furniture, house utensils, work tools, vehicles, glass, furniture, and jewelry.
- Graphic and Image Design: Deals with information and communication through text, photos, illustrations, and editorial design. This includes print media (books, newspapers, magazines), advertising (billboards, magazine ads, TV spots), posters, signs, and illustrations.
- Textile and Clothing Design: Involves configuring and constructing fabrics based on their structure and intended use, designing prints, and creating clothing and costumes.
History of Design
Gutenberg and the Printing Revolution:
The mid-15th century saw the birth of editorial design with Gutenberg’s invention of typography and the printing press. This revolutionized knowledge transmission and led to the development of image reproduction techniques (engraving, woodcut, lithograph) and the science of typography.
Post-Industrial Revolution:
The late 18th and 19th centuries witnessed advancements in automated textile production, steam power, and machine tools, enabling mass production and high-quality steel. Innovations like the semi-automatic printing machine and lithography further transformed the industry.
Le Corbusier’s Doctrine:
- Aesthetic austerity: Emphasized simplicity, straight lines, and the absence of ornamentation.
- Industrial production: Advocated for the use of new materials and industrial processes.
- Social impact: Aimed to create hygienic, modern, and functional living spaces accessible to all.
Bauhaus (1919-1933):
Founded by Walter Gropius, the Bauhaus school of design emphasized the integration of art, craft, and technology. It had three directors: Walter Gropius, Hannes Meyer, and Mies van der Rohe.
Areas for Development in Design Education
- Functional area: Integrating materials science and scientific methodologies to ensure product usability and effectiveness.
- Cultural understanding: Equipping designers with analytical tools for understanding cultural and social contexts.
- Business knowledge: Addressing the business aspects of design projects, including industrial and technological considerations.
- Communication skills: Providing materials and training to enhance communication effectiveness.
- Project synthesis: Creating opportunities for students to apply their knowledge and develop projects with greater autonomy.