Design tools for interdisciplinary translation of material experiences

Tools

Wilkes, Sarah; Wongsriruksa, Supinya; Howes, Philip; Gamester, Richard; Witchel, Harry; Conreen, Martin; Laughlin, Zoe and Miodownik, Mark. 2016. Design tools for interdisciplinary translation of material experiences. Materials & Design, 90, pp. 1228-1237. ISSN 0261-3069 [Article]

Preview

Text
Wilkes et al. Design tools FinalProof-1.pdf - Accepted Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial.
Download (16MB) | Preview

Official URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S...

Abstract or Description

Designers increasingly have the opportunity to influence the development of materials as they emerge from the laboratory. In order for this to be successful, designers need to be able to communicate effectively with materials scientists so that materials can be developed with desired functionalities and properties. This paper reviews evidence in favour of using isomorphic sets of material stimuli as tools to bridge the disciplinary gap between designers and materials scientists. We show how these isomorphic sets and their accompanying experiments can be used to translate between the two communities, and to systematically explore the relationship between the technical attributes of materials and subjective experiences of their sound, taste and feel. This paper also explores the limitations of psychophysical approaches and other quantitative techniques for elucidating material experience, and suggests new possibilities for interdisciplinary collaborations that draw on ethnographic approaches.

Item Type:

Article

Identification Number (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2015.04.013

Keywords:

Design tools; Design-driven materials innovation; Materials selection; Interdisciplinary dialogue; Technical properties; Sensory perception; Aesthetics; Material experiences; Psychophysics; Ethnography; Haptic encounter

Departments, Centres and Research Units:

Design

Dates: