Dissection of a car: an interesting and instructive experience for industrial design students
Year: 2010
Editor: Boks W; Ion, W; McMahon, C and Parkinson B
Author: Rismoen, Jon Herman; Mathisen, Mats Richard
Section: EXPERIENCES WITH COURSES/EDUCATION
Page(s): 192-197
Abstract
Dissection of a car has been an annual project for the 3rd year students enrolled to the Industrial Design study program at Department of Product Design, NTNU. The aim of the dissection has been to increase the students understanding of structure and function of different parts of a complex product. During one week the students completely disassemble an old car bought for the purpose. The project starts with a brief introductory lecture about how a car functions, general principles and general description of major components before the students start the dismantling. During the dissembling the class of approximately 20 students is divided into five groups, and each group dismantles its part of the car as far as time permits. At the end of the week each group presents its part of the car to the other fellow students and explains the behaviour of the components that the group dismantled. Each group documents its part using video, photos and sketches. Sustainable product design is to some extent also in focus with respect to the use of materials, dismantling friendliness and recycling opportunity. A web-based survey among the classes who have participated in the dissection project and two classes that will participate in the future are the basis for this work. The students find the exercise very fun, and that it provides a good hands-on intro to a complex product. The paper will include a description of the dissection laboratory work, the experience and results from the survey with suggestions for
improvements.
Keywords: Dissection, students, industrial design, best practices in design education