Noor Al-Doy

Supervisor:
 Dr Mark Evans, Department of Design and Technology, Loughborough University

An Investigation into the Curriculum for the Study of Digital Industrial Design (DID)

The nature of international competition is necessitating shorter product life cycles and an increasing trend towards customization. This places greater emphasis on reducing time to market as a key feature of competitive advantage. Digital industrial design tools and techniques provide opportunities to reduce the time from product planning to product sale. They facilitate efficiency gains through the use of computer-based methods:  from initial sketches through the design engineering of the product; suitability of materials used; evaluation tests; product assembly; and building of prototypes.

As the range of digital tools available to the industrial designer increases, it is now timely to consider the feasibility of a method for professional practice that is totally digital i.e. digital industrial design (DID).

Aim of Research:

To investigate how digital design tools can be employed during all stages of industrial design practice leading to the definition of a digital industrial design methodology and curriculum for undergraduate study.

Research Questions:

1. How should the existing and emerging digital tools be integrated to form a total digital industrial design methodology?
2. How should the teaching and learning of the digital industrial design methodology be integrated into a new digital industrial design curriculum?

Methodology:

• Phase 1: Literature Review
  It investigates into models of professional practice, industrial design education and emerging developments in digital design tools. This phase ends with a questionnaire distributed by the author to collect data from graduates regarding their usage of industrial design tools especially the digital ones and their opinions about a totally digital industrial design process and course.
  
• Phase 2: Development of a Digital Industrial Design Methodology
  Assimilation of findings from Phase 1 defines a draft digital industrial design methodology. The methodology is evaluated by undertaking specific design case studies by the researcher. It is envisaged that several products are going to emerge from this process before revising the methodology.
  
• Phase 3: Appraisal of the Digital Industrial Design Methodology
  The revised digital industrial design methodology is presented to industrial design practitioners for feedback then relevant modifications should be made with the potential for further case studies if needed.
  
• Phase 4: Development of a Digital Industrial Design Curriculum
  Modules that should be taught within in the curriculum are identified to help with the conversion of the digital industrial design method into a curriculum for undergraduate study.
  
• Phase 5: Appraisal of the Digital Industrial Design Curriculum
  The digital industrial design curriculum is demonstrated to senior educators then a survey using personal interview method should be done to get their feedback about the curriculum for it to be appraised and validated.