Design Through Making: Learning from Low-Volume Production

DS 74: Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Engineering & Product Design Education (E&PDE12) Design Education for Future Wellbeing, Antwerp, Belguim, 06-07.9.2012

Year: 2012
Editor: Lyndon Buck, Geert Frateur, William Ion, Chris McMahon, Chris Baelus, Guido De Grande, Stijn Verwulgen
Author: Morgan, David
Series: E&PDE
Institution: Brigham Young University, United States of America
Section: Design/Make interface
Page(s): 631-635
ISBN: 978-1-904670-36-0

Abstract

This paper describes a making-centric teaching methodology intended to illuminate design issues and processes through a low-volume production project. The methodology involves material discovery informing initial design, iteration with human needs and production realities in mind, a low-volume production run functioning as ongoing design critique and refinement, simple tool and fixture making to facilitate production, and relative success of retail sales as design feedback. Developed over a number of years at different institutions and venues, this making methodology allows students to engage with materials and processes to see the entire product development process in an energetic microcosm.

Keywords: Low-volume production, making, do-it-yourself

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