Short answer
Adopt a flexible, multidisciplinary design process that anticipates emergent behaviors and integrates service design principles when developing smart products.
- Field
- Innovation & Design
- Source
- Proceedings of the Design Society (2022)
- Method
- Literature review and framework development
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
The unique characteristics of smart products necessitate a revised design methodology that accounts for evolving relationships between form, function, and multidisciplinary inputs. This innovation & design research insight is drawn from a 2022 study published in Proceedings of the Design Society. Using Literature review and framework development, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Adopt a flexible, multidisciplinary design process that anticipates emergent behaviors and integrates service design principles when developing smart products.
Objectomy Framework: Adapting Design Methods for Smart Products
The unique characteristics of smart products necessitate a revised design methodology that accounts for evolving relationships between form, function, and multidisciplinary inputs.
Proceedings of the Design Society · 2022
Key Findings
- 01Smart products introduce new design variables that traditional methods do not fully address.
- 02A multidisciplinary approach is crucial for smart product design.
- 03The relationship between form and function is decoupled in smart products, requiring new considerations.
- 04Objectomy provides a structured approach to manage the complexities of smart product design.
Application
Design takeaway
Adopt a flexible, multidisciplinary design process that anticipates emergent behaviors and integrates service design principles when developing smart products.
How to apply
When designing a smart product, map out all potential user interactions, service integrations, and technological dependencies, and involve diverse expertise throughout the design lifecycle.
Project actions
- 01When designing a smart product, consider not just its physical form but also its digital capabilities and how it connects to other systems.
- 02Involve team members with different skills (e.g., software, user experience, hardware) early in your design project.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Addresses a timely and relevant topic in contemporary design practice.
- +Proposes a novel framework (Objectomy) for a specific design challenge.
Limitations
The Objectomy framework is a new concept and may not be widely adopted or understood by all stakeholders.
Reliability & validity
The study's validity relies on the logical coherence of its framework and its potential applicability. Reliability would be assessed through repeated application of the Objectomy framework across different smart product design projects.
Think critically
To what extent does the 'decoupling of form and function' in smart products truly represent a paradigm shift, or is it an evolution of existing design challenges?
Design Principles
"Design processes for smart products must be adaptive, acknowledging the decoupling of form and function and embracing multidisciplinary collaboration."
Traditional design approaches may fall short when dealing with smart products due to their inherent complexity, interconnectedness, and service-oriented nature. Embracing new frameworks like Objectomy can help designers navigate these challenges, leading to more effective and innovative smart product development.
What This Means for Your Design
Smart products are complicated because they do things on their own and connect to other things. Old ways of designing might not work well. This research suggests a new way called 'Objectomy' to help designers think about all the different parts and how they work together.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference the Objectomy framework when discussing your design process for a smart product, highlighting how it guided your decisions.
- 2.Use this research to justify the need for a multidisciplinary team in your design project.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
The design of smart products presents unique challenges that necessitate a departure from traditional design methodologies. As highlighted by the Objectomy framework, these products often decouple form and function, requiring a multidisciplinary approach and consideration of service ecosystems. This research suggests that designers must adopt a more adaptive and integrated process to effectively navigate the complexities of smart product development, ensuring that the design accounts for both expected and unexpected outcomes.
Source
Proceedings of the Design Society
Design Methods Review For Smart Product: Objectomy, a New Approach
journal · 2022
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about objectomy framework: adapting design methods for smart products?
- Adopt a flexible, multidisciplinary design process that anticipates emergent behaviors and integrates service design principles when developing smart products. Evidence: Proceedings of the Design Society (2022).
- Why does "Objectomy Framework: Adapting Design Methods for Smart Products" matter for design?
- Traditional design approaches may fall short when dealing with smart products due to their inherent complexity, interconnectedness, and service-oriented nature. Embracing new frameworks like Objectomy can help designers navigate these challenges, leading to more effective and innovative smart product development.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Adopt a flexible, multidisciplinary design process that anticipates emergent behaviors and integrates service design principles when developing smart products.
- What were the main findings?
- Smart products introduce new design variables that traditional methods do not fully address.. A multidisciplinary approach is crucial for smart product design.. The relationship between form and function is decoupled in smart products, requiring new considerations.. Objectomy provides a structured approach to manage the complexities of smart product design.
- What research method was used?
- Literature review and framework development.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2022 journal from Proceedings of the Design Society.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing a smart product, map out all potential user interactions, service integrations, and technological dependencies, and involve diverse expertise throughout the design lifecycle.
- What are the limitations?
- The proposed framework is theoretical and requires further validation through real-world application.