This document outlines Noor Al-Doy's research into developing a digital industrial design (DID) methodology and curriculum. Phase 1 involved a literature review on industrial design tools, technologies, education, and digital tool classifications. Phase 2 aimed to develop a DID methodology through case studies and surveys of graduating students. Key findings were that students value hands-on modeling and sketching, and do not believe digital tools can replace this. However, a viable DID methodology was proposed integrating pen tablets, 3D modeling, prototyping, and other tools. Future plans include refining the methodology and gathering practitioner feedback.

1. Noor Al-Doy
Enrolled 1st Oct 2007
Supervisor:
Dr. Mark Evans

2. 1
Research Aim:
Investigate how digital design tools can be employed

during all stages of industrial design practice leading to
the definition of a DID method and curriculum for
undergraduate study

3. 2
Research Questions:
Can existing digital tools be integrated to form a totally

DID method that can be implemented now?
How should the existing and emerging digital tools be

integrated to form a total DID method that can be
implemented within the next 5-10 years?
How should the teaching and learning of the digital

industrial design method be integrated into a new
digital industrial design curriculum?

4. 3
Summary of Achievements:
Phase 1: Literature Review
•Review of industrial design
practice and tools
•Review of emerging •Review of industrial design
technologies education
•Classifications of analogue •Chances for more digital
Progress to Date
and digital tools use
•Study with industrial design
graduates
Phase 2: Development of a DID Methodology
•Daft DID methodology
•Case studies (reflective
designing)

5. 4
Survey of Graduating Industrial/product
design students:
Aims:
Identify the methods of design

modelling used
Discover how easy it is for students to

use digital tools and the extent to
which they are employed
Highlight the areas of the

industrial/product design process that
can be improved in the curriculum of
the course
Receive feedback on the potential to

employ completely digital techniques
to design a product

6. 5
Survey of Graduating Industrial/product
design students:
Research Method:
Dropping off questionnaire.

Scope:
104 industrial/product design

students graduating in 2008
and exhibiting at New
Designers Exhibition.

7. 6
Findings
Design Methods Used:
Conventional Digital
Sketches Sketches
Sketch models Sketch models
Appearance models Appearance models
Renderings Renderings
Control drawings Control drawings
Testing Testing
Prototypes Prototypes

8. 7
Findings
Digital Design Tools Usage:
Digital Design Tool % Feelings
60%
2D computer visualization software
54%
3D solid modelling CAD software
34%
3D surface modelling CAD software
28%
Digitizing tablets ?
88%
Haptic feedback devices ?
88%
Virtually reality ?
46%
Digital testing analysis ?
44%
Computer numerical control machining
53%
Rapid prototyping

9. 8
Average Digital Methods Usage:
75.4%
68.6% Specification
Further
48.4% Refinement &
Final Concept
Preliminary
Selection
Refinement
41.8%
Concept
Generation

10. 9
Thoughts on Employing Digital Techniques:
Majority of students do not believe that they will be able to

achieve the same outcome from their projects if the entire
process was done using digital tools.
 Majority of students do not believe that digital technologies
have the potential to replace conventional workshops and
the hands-on experience.

11. 10
Thoughts on Employing Digital Techniques:
Majority of students disagree that their design practice will

improve if they used a completely digital process.
 Majority of students disagree that it would be appropriate to
have a totally digital industrial/product design course.

12. 11
Findings
Reasons behind the Negative Feelings:
Reasons:
Hands-on model making is important
Lack of sketch work (free hand sketching skill)
Reduces free and creative thinking
Design process to become too impersonal
Limitation of design skills
It is important to feel the product in its true form and texture
Cost
It is quicker to use a pen/pencil to generate ideas
Becoming static behind a computer screen is not a good
thing

13. 12
Viable Digital Industrial Design (DID)
Methodology:
Pen Input Device Digitizing Tablet without a Digitizing Tablet with an
3D Mouse 2D Mouse
Built in Display Interactive Pen Display
2D Visualization Software
3D Scanning 3D CAD
Haptic Modelling 2D CAD
(Existing Product) (Surface & Solid)
CNC (2D)
Rapid Prototyping CNC (2D & 3D) Virtual Prototyping Virtual Reality
End
End End End

14. 13
Viable Digital Industrial Design (DID)
Methodology:
Pen Input Device Digitizing Tablet without a Digitizing Tablet with an
3D Mouse 2D Mouse
Built in Display Interactive Pen Display
2D Visualization Software
3D Scanning 3D CAD
Haptic Modelling 2D CAD
(Existing Product) (Surface & Solid)
CNC (2D)
Rapid Prototyping CNC (2D & 3D) Virtual Prototyping Virtual Reality
End
End End End

15. 14
Viable Digital Industrial Design (DID)
Methodology:
Digitizing
Tablet with an
Digitizing Tablet
Pen Input 3D Mouse 2D Mouse
Interactive
without a Built in
Device
Pen Display
Display
.
2D Visualization
Software

16. 15
Viable Digital Industrial Design (DID)
Methodology:
Pen Input Device Digitizing Tablet without a Digitizing Tablet with an
3D Mouse 2D Mouse
Built in Display Interactive Pen Display
2D Visualization Software
3D Scanning 3D CAD
Haptic Modelling 2D CAD
(Existing Product) (Surface & Solid)
CNC (2D)
Rapid Prototyping CNC (2D & 3D) Virtual Prototyping Virtual Reality
End
End End End

17. 16
Viable Digital Industrial Design (DID)
Methodology:
Pen Input Device Digitizing Tablet without a Digitizing Tablet with an
3D Mouse 2D Mouse
Built in Display Interactive Pen Display
2D Visualization Software
3D Scanning 3D CAD
Haptic Modelling 2D CAD
(Existing Product) (Surface & Solid)
CNC (2D)
Rapid Prototyping CNC (2D & 3D) Virtual Prototyping Virtual Reality
End
End End End

18. 17
Viable Digital Industrial Design (DID)
Methodology:
2D
Visualization
Software
3D CAD Haptic
3D Scanning
2D CAD
(Surface & Solid) Modelling
(Existing Product)
CNC (2D)

19. 18
Viable Digital Industrial Design (DID)
Methodology:
Pen Input Device Digitizing Tablet without a Digitizing Tablet with an
3D Mouse 2D Mouse
Built in Display Interactive Pen Display
2D Visualization Software
3D Scanning 3D CAD
Haptic Modelling 2D CAD
(Existing Product) (Surface & Solid)
CNC (2D)
Rapid Prototyping CNC (2D & 3D) Virtual Prototyping Virtual Reality
End
End End End

20. 19
Viable Digital Industrial Design (DID)
Methodology:
Pen Input Device Digitizing Tablet without a Digitizing Tablet with an
3D Mouse 2D Mouse
Built in Display Interactive Pen Display
2D Visualization Software
3D Scanning 3D CAD
Haptic Modelling 2D CAD
(Existing Product) (Surface & Solid)
CNC (2D)
Rapid Prototyping CNC (2D & 3D) Virtual Prototyping Virtual Reality
End
End End End

21. 20
Viable Digital Industrial Design (DID)
Methodology:
3D CAD (Surface
& Solid)
Rapid CNC (2D & 3D) Virtual Virtual
Prototyping Prototyping Reality
End End End End

22. 21
Future Plan:
Phase 2: Development of a DID Methodology
•Case studies (reflective
designing)
•Revised DID Methodology
Phase 3: Appraisal of the DID Methodology
•Practitioner’s feedback
•Appraisal of DID
methodology

23. 22
Thank you