Industrial product design

Author: Yang Zheng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-09-01
Features: Industrial design, also known as industrial design, is an emerging interdisciplinary field that ultimately formed during the modern industrial era, encompassing both technology and art. As a theory and methodology of modern design, its research content not only includes aspects such as product functionality, structure, materials, manufacturing processes, as well as the form, color, surface treatment, and decorative techniques of products, but also encompasses various social, economic, and human physiological and psychological factors related to products. It integrates modern design theories and techniques to ensure that modern industrial products can provide users with efficient, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing experiences, fully meeting people's material and spiritual needs. Industrial design differs from traditional engineering design because, while fully considering the improvement of product structural performance indicators, it must also take into account various factors related to products and society, products and the market, and products and human physiology and psychology. It also differs from general art design because, while emphasizing the artistic form of modern industrial products, it must also emphasize the economic value of unifying product form with functionality and production. Therefore, industrial design is a creative activity that organically unifies science, technology, aesthetics, and the market economy. This book is written based on the author's reference to domestic and international materials and the combination of years of teaching and practice in industrial design. It comprehensively discusses the basic theories, methods, and skills of industrial product form design, striving to connect theory with practice. This book is part of the "Design Series Textbooks for the 21st Century" and can serve as both a textbook for industrial design courses in design or mechanical engineering majors in higher education institutions and a reference book for professionals specializing in industrial design. Considering the characteristics of students in mechanical engineering majors, the appendix includes content on the basics of color composition and form composition.
III. Product Applicability
Product applicability is the study of the most suitable interaction methods and approaches between products, machinery, and equipment and humans from the perspective of human-machine relationships, thereby determining the rational use of products and machinery. Rational use is the main standard for measuring product functionality and form. Successful product design makes users feel easy to use, applicable, safe, and reliable, wins the market, and brings benefits to enterprises; conversely, products will be eliminated. The rational use of products must conform to natural and objective laws and be coordinated with human physiological and psychological functions. For example, glass cups that are easy to use and clean; various tools that are convenient and labor-saving; comfortable chairs; and controllers of various machine equipment that are easy to operate. Only by carefully studying and solving the optimization of various functions related to products and humans can people use products more conveniently, accurately, quickly, and effectively. The rational use of products, as an important part of the principle of humanization, has become an essential component of modern industrial product design. Its general design principles include the following aspects:
1. Design related to body dimensions
(1) The form and dimensions of parts or components of products that directly act on the human body should be coordinated with the physiological characteristics and dimensions of the human body. For example, the shape and dimensions of handles and buttons of tools that are directly grasped by the human hand should meet the anatomical and physiological requirements of the human hand. For instance, the diameter of a car steering wheel and the width of a bicycle handlebar should make people feel comfortable and convenient when holding and gripping. The design of seats should conform to the physiological curve of the human lumbar spine.
(2) The height of parts and components in machinery and equipment for human operation and control should be designed based on human dimensions. For example, the operating devices of various machine tools should be placed in positions that are within reach of the human hand and allow for natural posture. The working height should be designed according to different working postures. The design heights of tables, chairs, and furniture should be based on human body dimensions.
(3) The working space should be suitable for the range of human movement. In particular, the movement of the head, arms, hands, legs, and feet should have enough space. For example, the size of a car cockpit should be appropriate, allowing the driver to perform various operations comfortably and conveniently.
2. Design related to human muscle strength and physical strength
(1) The operating force of products and machinery should be within the range of human physiological effort, and the magnitude of the force should be appropriate. For example, the amount of water a household thermos can hold should be selected within the range of force suitable for lifting and moving. The operating force of handles and levers of machinery and equipment should be adapted to the physical strength of the operator. However, the operating force should not be too small, as this will weaken the feedback information during operation and make it less favorable for operation. For example, if the elastic force of a key is too small, it will be difficult for people to perceive it, which may lead to incorrect operation.
(2) The body movements during work should be natural, and the body posture should be coordinated with the force applied. The amplitude, intensity, speed, and rhythm of movements should be mutually coordinated to avoid excessive muscle tension and fatigue caused by machinery and equipment.
3. Design related to vision
(1) The design of display devices, control instruments, and other elements in machinery and equipment that are related to human observation should meet human visual characteristics. For example, the design of clarity related to visual resolution, the design of color related to color vision, and the layout design related to field of vision and viewing distance should all facilitate people in clearly, quickly, and reliably obtaining various display information.
(2) The frequency and direction of changes in display information of machinery and equipment should be consistent with the frequency and direction of control information. This coordination can make it easier for people to observe and operate, reducing errors.
(3) The color design of machinery and equipment should be unified with the function and usage environment of the machinery and equipment itself. For example, equipment in high-temperature workshops should not use warm tones; using cool tones will make people feel comfortable. The colors of key and warning areas should be prominent for easy identification. Since color can evoke associations and create feelings, for large equipment, using light colors on the upper part and dark colors on the lower part can enhance the sense of stability. Additionally, reasonable color coordination of machinery and equipment can enhance its aesthetic appeal, making it more comfortable for people.
(4) Environmental lighting should provide the best visual experience for people. The brightness, color, and distribution of light should be suitable for human vision and should not cause glare or unreasonable reflections.
4. Design related to product structure and function
Generally, the purpose of a product determines its material function, and the material function determines the form of the product. Therefore, the functional design of products should reflect the scientificity, advancement, rationality of operation, and reliability of use. This mainly includes the following aspects:
(1) Appropriate functional range
The development trend of modern products is gradually moving toward multifunctionality and automation, which also leads to complex product structures, making product design more complex, manufacturing more difficult, and maintenance inconvenient, while also increasing production costs. Therefore, when designing products, a comprehensive analysis must be conducted to ensure that the functionality is appropriate and complete, or that the product is serialized. It is worth noting that modern industrial products often use the principle of biomimicry in functional design. We know that biological organisms are the result of natural selection, created by nature, and represent the ideal solution that organisms themselves provide for technology. For example, arch-shaped buildings imitate the stress principles of eggshells, and radar is a practical application of the sonar detection principle of bats.
(2) Excellent working performance
Working performance includes the mechanical properties of products (such as strength, stiffness, stability, etc.), physical properties (such as conductivity, thermal conductivity, etc.), and chemical properties (such as corrosiveness, stability, etc.), as well as the extent to which they can achieve accuracy, firmness, durability, high speed, and safety. The working performance of industrial products is generally more important to people because it directly reflects the intrinsic quality of the product. It must be pointed out that the form design of industrial products should also be adapted to the working performance of industrial products. For example, the appearance of high-precision, high-performance products should give people a sense of precision, such as video recorders and cameras.
(3) Scientific usage function
The material function of industrial products can only be realized through human use. The high speed, precision, and efficiency of modern products have, to some extent, increased the mental and physical burden on operators, which requires designers to consider the impact of product form on human physiology and psychology during the design process. That is, comfort, safety, and efficiency during operation have become indicators of whether the structure and form design of products are scientific and reasonable. Specifically, the applicability of products requires that form designers pay attention to the following aspects of coordination when designing the structure and function of products.
① Coordination between objects
The coordination between objects primarily refers to the mutual coordination of the shape and size of various parts and components of the product. This is mainly addressed through engineering and technical design. Secondly, it refers to the harmonious relationship between various parts and components in the product, presenting a unified, simple, and harmonious appearance. This is mainly achieved through industrial form design. For example, in the design of a reducer, by reasonably adjusting the transmission ratio, the volume of the reducer can be reduced through the gears, shafts, and housing space.
② Coordination between humans and objects
The coordination between humans and objects includes:
- Coordination between body and object, meaning that product form design should meet the requirements of ergonomics, making people feel light, labor-saving, comfortable, and safe when using the product. For example, the height of a workbench is specified as 1060 mm, which is determined based on ergonomic principles. Similarly, the height of tables and chairs, as well as operating spaces, should have reasonable dimensions.
- Coordination between mind and object, meaning that the form design of products should have a psychological effect on people, making the psychological effects generated by the product coordinate with its functionality while also providing aesthetic, safety, and comfort. When dealing with the coordination between mind and object, it is important to note the different requirements for form design from different people. Generally, the design of the form should vary depending on the target users.
③ Coordination between objects and the environment
The coordination between objects and the environment refers to the harmonious relationship between industrial products and the spatial environment. The usage environment of the product is one of the factors considered in form design. In different environments, products should have certain differences in form, and the form must be coordinated with the atmosphere of the specific environment to produce psychological responses that are beneficial to work, production, and life. For example, meeting rooms and libraries often use indoor spaces with gray tones, making people feel calm and composed. For fixed products, coordination should be considered in terms of "form, color, and texture" with the surrounding equipment. For frequently moving products, consideration should be given to maintaining relative stability during movement. For example, the horizontal rectangular body of cars and trains gives a sense of stability, while horizontal streamlined decorations give a sense of speed.
### Section III: Reliability Principles
The ability of a product to perform its specified function under specified conditions and within a specified time is called reliability. The reliability of a product is the basic standard for measuring whether people trust and accept it. Industrial products with low or no reliability are prone to frequent failures during use, even posing safety risks. Therefore, product reliability and its design, like ergonomics, are one of the important aspects of modern industrial product design.