Digital product design

Jon Rogers*, Tom Hulbert

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Product design is a rapidly evolving subject. Product design and its relationship with engineering on the other hand can be argued to be going through a much slower evolutionary process. Why is it that the significant majority of product design and engineering programs are really about product design and mechanical engineering? In this paper we would like to review this relationship and propose a new direction, one already taken by industry that engages with computing and digital electronics as a focus. Underpinning this new direction is the development of microcontroller technologies that enable small programmable digital devices to be embedded within the designed products. For education, research and industry this is having a profound effect on the products and design-concepts that are emerging. We will provide a review of the technologies that are appropriate and available to design education and give examples of products/projects that demonstrate the direction that this paper proposes that product design education should take if we are to educate product designers for their digital futures.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationDS 43
Subtitle of host publicationProceedings of E and PDE 2007, the 9th International Conference on Engineering and Product Design Education
Pages45-50
Number of pages6
Publication statusPublished - 2007
Externally publishedYes
Event10th International Conference on Engineering and Product Design Education, E and PDE 2008 - Newcastle, United Kingdom
Duration: 13 Sept 200714 Sept 2007

Publication series

NameDS 43: Proceedings of E and PDE 2007, the 9th International Conference on Engineering and Product Design Education

Conference

Conference10th International Conference on Engineering and Product Design Education, E and PDE 2008
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityNewcastle
Period13/09/0714/09/07

Keywords

  • Critical design
  • Electronics
  • Hands-in design
  • Interaction design
  • Mechanical engineering
  • Physical computing
  • Playful technologies
  • Product design

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