Standpoint

‘Concept to Product’ is an integral process in Industrial design. It is Industrial design. It is design to be produced for the consumer, produced on mass and with consistency.  It is with this in mind that Industrial design separates itself from other specialisations in design.

My stop motion clip has the theme of ‘Concept to Product’ in Industrial design. It sought to make one think about the order in which this creative process is carried out. This is the idea that function can follow form and produce very interesting and unique results in industrial design.

The usual process finds a solution to a problem, perhaps with limitations put in place by a client, in the form of a concept. Traditionally the artefact subject to design is recognised up front, be it a pair of scissors or a toothbrush, then research is carried out, mind mapping, sketches and modelling. The end result is a form.

However, aiming to foster the design of fresh, unique and atypical forms, this process is being undertaken in reverse by some schools of design (Morris, 2005). It has been taught as a means of thinking outside the box of preconceived aesthetic limits (Morris, 2005).  Ryan Jorgensen, a student of Morris (2005), took part in a design project based on this idea and articulated it as, “We are so programmed to what certain objects look like it is very hard to overcome those preconceptions. But working backwards and finding out what you are making at the end allows your pure creativity to show through.”

My stop motion clip creates some food for thought by demonstrating this with play dough. Some forms are modelled, sketched and a possible product is revealed to show its potential. These are of Italian design which make them relevant to the flavour of the film.


Citations


Morris, J A. (2005). Function Follows Form. IDSA. Retrieved from http://www.idsa.org/function-follows-form