Knowledge Base Repository
In addition to research papers, the Design Society is developing several valuable resources for those interested in the study of design. These include a repository of PhD theses, a library of case studies and transcripts of design activities, and an archive of our newsletters. Please note that these resources are accessible exclusively to Design Society members.
Aesthetic, Structural and Functional Transparency in Design
Thomsen, Bente Dahl; Madsen, Klaus
Type:
Year:
2011
Editor:
Kovacevic, Ahmed, Ion, William, McMahon, Chris, Buck, Lyndon and Hogarth, Peter
Author:
Series:
E&PDE
Section:
New Design Paradigms
Page(s):
411-416
Abstract:
Aesthetic, structural and functional transparency have proven to be highly suitable triggers in creative product development, where the aim is to achieve clear articulation of the promotional values. During the analysis of competing products, the three transparencies are usable for focusing on form, structure and function as a basis for clarification of the design specification. Such decoding of product values is supplemented by considerations about what subtle leading feature can foster an integration of structural and functional aspects into an aesthetic form that can capture the potential buyers' attention and help the user to benefit by owning the product. Through comparison of the results of 5 fifth semester terms, we have observed that the 3 transparency terms play different roles depending on in which product category the design is created. This article illustrates and discusses the use of aesthetic, structural and functional transparency as a means of clarifying the articulation regarding which qualities a product achieves. Before it was made clear that the goal for the product development was to achieve aesthetic, structural and functional transparency the argument for the aesthetic qualities was usually unclear and it was very much up to the partner himself, or together with his marketing people, to clarify what qualities the product should be marketed on.
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