Posted by Michael Paloian on 6 April 2010

 

Design is very special to me and is central to my life. I will attempt to share many aspects of design with you which include

• Design in Nature
• Invention Design
• Decorative Design
• Fashion Design
• Technical & Engineering Design

I would also like to discuss the design process by highlighting the steps required to develop a successful product. I thought I would also be appropriate to address some of the possible reasons for a general apathy for good design within the rotational molding industry. My objectives are to enlighten you about good design and its benefits to industry, profits and society.

 

Let’s begin with the meaning of the word DESIGN

What does it mean?
According to Webster’s dictionary, the word means –  to create, fashion, or construct according to plan Or  to conceive and plan out in the mind / to devise for a specific function. The key words in these definitions are create, plan and function.

 

Each one of these words is essential to the design process. Without any one of them design ideas cannot be conceived, communicated or have any utility.
All designers possess these skills to varying degrees and it’s these talents which distinguish average designers from great ones. It’s also these traits that attract designers toward the decorative or functional ends of the design profession.

 

Where it Begins

Let’s talk about the design process from the beginning. Although the process is initiated many different ways, it always originates from the spark of an idea which is synthesized in the mind. Your mind. 

 

Everyone thinks the design process begins with a blank piece of paper. This is not really true. Actually a blank piece of paper is the best place to start designing something. Everyone has some preconception and it’s this preconception which must be removed to begin the design process with fresh insight. This is the first step in the creative process which is the most fascinating and mysterious part of design. Preconceptions introduce assumptions which can ultimately truncate potentially innovative design solutions.
Throughout the ages thousands of books have been written about the subject of creativity. Countless numbers of authors have attempted to understand how it works and how it can be improved. A matter of fact, today there are many so called experts who make a living extolling their unique method for maximizing the creative process.

 

Imagination

My opinion is that some of us are blessed with an exceptionally creative mind which can be nurtured to be inventive and highly productive. The majority simply follows in the creative wake initiated by the few. Although creativity can be improved, developed and enhanced, I don’t think it can be taught.

 

Creativity is a mysterious and usually unpredictably spontaneous process which requires stimulation.

 

That stimulation usually comes from one’s surroundings.

 

It also requires careful observation and the ability to make associations between apparently unrelated objects or events.

 

The Plan

After a concept has been created, it must developed and refined. During this process the abstract idea within the mind is transformed into a physical object by developing a plan. Planning requires organizational skills and knowledge. Creativity alone will not necessarily yield good designs. Plans are required to develop and evolve an idea into a viable and useful product. Plans can range from an informal sketch or simple model to very complex detailed drawings.

 

End Result — Information

Most laymen associate design with CAD drawings or the blueprints. These only represent a small fraction of the total picture. Design is primarily planning and thinking. Planning includes consideration of material properties, user needs, the environment of use, the application and hundreds of other factors. These considerations will have a profound effect on the performance and success of the final product.

 

Today, design professionals prepare these documents using computers with the aid of 3D modeling software. The end product or final design solution is physically nonexistent. It is only digital information which can instantly be transferred electronically anywhere in the world.

 

Design without Function

The third requirement for design is function. Design without function is referred to as art. All designs must serve some purpose and satisfy some utilitarian need. The functional part of design is dependent upon the designer’s awareness of the application, materials, environment and conditions of use. Oversight or inadequate research can result in catastrophic failure. It should be noted that appearance does not have to be sacrificed for function. To the contrary, good designs balance form and function based on a number of requirements.