Improving Industrial Design through Hands-on Experimentation

Industrial production is inevitably heading towards the Intelligent Factory. The role of the designer lies in exploiting the adaptability of robotic manufacturing process to the customers' individual requirements. The frame is defined by intellectual capabilities of the designer, CAD modeling capability and limitations of both physical and financial aspects of robotized production. The young generation of designers are aware of this phenomenon, preparing predominantly in CAD modeling. However, simple models are created, which is mainly due to exercise using CAD software with limited modeling capability, or requiring large amount of time for modeling and modification. Even though works and methods of design of the masters of the Studio Furniture movement are acclaimed, students perceive them as outdated and impractical. The research focuses on the opportunity of reintroducing design study through direct contact with the material in classes of the Faculty of Architecture Furniture specialization. These studies should supplement CAD modeling during design and prototype building. The study involves a group of students and young designers and monitors formal language changes that occur when they are required to model components for a furniture piece using hand tools. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier Ltd.