Designing with an underdeveloped computational composite for materials experience

Abstract

In response to the urge for multidisciplinary development of computational composites, designers and material scientists are increasingly involved in collaborative projects to valorize these technology-push materials in the early stages of their development. To further develop the computational composites, material scientists need designer’s inputs regarding the physical properties and temporal behavior of the composite, as embodying an application in a context of use. Effective communication of material knowledge and design knowledge between the two disciplines (material science and design) has proven to be challenging due to their different perspectives on materials. Designing appropriate product concepts requires understanding of composite’s unique characteristics and creating aspired value closely linked to those characteristics. Our design case shows that designing for materials experience can provide a useful framework to organize the design activities around understanding the technical and experiential characteristics of underdeveloped computational composites. Collecting and making tangible samples, outlining and simulating possible physical and temporal behavior and discussing them with material scientists and users improved designer’s understanding of the underdeveloped computational composite. Our study points out the need for clarification of possible aspired values in designing with computational composites and discussions on those, prior to determining the design/development path. Further, it underscores the multifaceted role of prototypes in resolving uncertainty associated with material knowledge and a preferred design path and mobilizing design actions, that entails further investigation.