With the rapid development of intuitive products, industrial designing is becoming more crucial and diverse and has revolutionised the production landscape. Industrial design is the process of creating or innovating products or systems in a way that proves to be better in terms of aesthetics, functionality, user interface, and brand identity.
This includes all the steps that are needed to create products that prove to be beneficial in one way or another. From physical aspects of the product like visuals, shapes, and texture, to functionality and movement along with usage, every component is essential for a successful industrial design
How Does Industrial Design Help In Product Development?
One of the major focuses in industrial designing is helping product development and innovation. As new products take over the market like a storm, it becomes necessary to meet the customer demand with products that excite the audience and stay in the market for long.
- Enhancing Aesthetics and Brand Identity
Every brand wants its products to look unique and have a distinguished presentation to stand out from other products. Using industrial designing techniques, brands can showcase and launch products that will help them get recognised through their brand colours and themes.
- Innovation and Functionality Optimisation
Even though there are thousands of products around the globe that have their own functionalities, creating products that can perform better with fewer risks is always needed. For every innovation in a product, a new one is already in demand and industrial design is the way to fulfil that demand in the best way.
- Marketability and Competitive Edge
If two brands target the same audience and have the same type of products, in order to get a competitive edge, adding something unique and out-of-the-box is the only way one brand can move forward in the market. Industrial design creates distinctiveness in products by adding innovation in either functionality or visuals so that customers can be attracted to the difference. It also helps in marketing that unique feature to stand out.
- Cost-Efficiency
Producing products with the same functionality but lower costs can be a strategic way to increase profits and get a competitive edge. Different industrial design tactics and techniques can help in saving money for future innovations.
Challenges in Implementing Industrial Design in Production
As industrial designing requires strategic changes in products after vigorous trials, there are a few challenges that can hinder the growth of new industrial design practices:
- Balancing Aesthetics with Functionality
Although improving either aesthetics or functionality is essential, it is important to take other things into account as well. If a product has better aesthetics but is difficult to use, it may sell for a short period of time and will reduce sales once the product proves to be inefficient. At the same time, improving functionality but decreasing aesthetic appeal may lead to lower sales in the first place.
An example can be taken from the launch of new mobile phones. The timeless designs along with better system functions are a prime example of aesthetics with functionality.
- Integration with Existing Workflows
Implementing new product designs may lead to changes in other things. If a product design induces changes that disrupt the flow of the entire system, the product is less likely to be taken forward. It is necessary that the product is compatible with the already present systems and chain of demand.
If a new software is produced that has better functionality, it needs to be compatible with the existing systems running in the company. New industrial designs keep this in the forefront so that innovation comes with easy adaptation.
- Time-to-Market Pressures
With increasing market and competition for products, the consumer demand has increased. Thus, creating new and exciting products that capture the eye of users has become more time-driven. Luckily, due to innovative technologies and better raw products, the time-to-market pressure can be maintained while providing new products quicker than ever.
- Communication and Collaboration Issues
Communication and collaboration issues were on the brim because a collective agreement on launching products is always necessary. This has become a million times easier due to the new industrial design strategies. By using new technologies that ensure proper communication and allow sharing every step of the building process starting from the idea, communication and collaboration have become effortless.
Impact of Industrial Design on User Experience
One of the most integral parts of industrial design is the interaction of products and humans. Since the target audience is the main driver of the product, it is necessary to ensure that users have the desire to use the products over and over again.
- Ergonomics and Comfort
Studying ergonomics and the plausible response from people for the product is important to make sure that the product is reaching the right audience with the right functions. The placement of elements such as buttons, grip of the product, weight of the material, and strength, all contribute to the ergonomics of the product. New technologies in industrial design have changed the way products are now produced.
- Accessibility and Inclusivity
As the world is going towards more inclusivity and diversity, it is essential that the products are the same way. Industrial designers now produce designs that include all shapes and sizes. Now products are marketed to all age groups, genders, and types of cultures for a diverse range that does not leave anyone out.
- Brand Perception and Trust
Brands and companies have now prioritised industrial design so that the customers can trust the brand for their representation, and required solutions. Brands use this as a strategy to keep the brand’s perception in check and provide products that ensure trust.
What Are The Future Trends In Modern Industrial Design?
The present technologies and changes in the industrial design field are just the start as modern industrial design is taking a turn in a more sustainable and creative direction.
- Integration of AI and Smart Technologies
With AI taking a boom in today’s world, many industrial designers have already integrated AI help in their designing process to create solutions that have never been thought of before. It has widened the horizon for creativity and trial. Now different products can be tested and improved in a quicker way.
- Sustainable Industrial Design
The focus of today’s companies and global organisations collectively is to produce eco-friendly solutions that have a lower carbon footprint and prove better for the environment. Through new and innovative technologies, more products can be made and marketed that emit a positive attitude toward saving resources. This includes bio-inspired materials and organic designs.
- Augmented and Virtual Reality Integration
As industrial design is mostly focused on user experience, the integration of Augmented reality and virtual reality can change the way industrial design works by a huge threshold. It can enhance user experience and provide creative solutions in less time.
Conclusion
With the world drastically changing towards innovative products, industrial design, and its new techniques have changed the dynamic of the original production landscape. Now products are created in a new light with less time, more eco-friendly solutions, and on a lesser budget. With these changes being utilised at great speed, the industrial design field is yet to explore more solutions that are likely to level up the production game in months.
