Product as Environment

Aims and objectives

This studio explores synergies between Industrial Design and Interior Design through the design of hybrid product/environments. It challenges students to create innovative design solutions for everyday spaces such as caravans, campervans, motor homes, mobile homes, marine craft (sailing boats to cruise liners), compact urban dwellings, capsule hotels, and so forth.

Teaching methods

Projects are conducted in a student-centred studio, on a work-in-progress basis. Group discussion, site visits, research, consultation, evaluation, critique sessions and presentations are conducted as appropriate.

Assessment

Content

The studio considers design for mass production, and advanced materials and construction techniques, including the relative merits and applications of plastics, metals, natural materials, and composite material technologies. It examines tool design and development, and the economics of manufacturing large components. Project work is team-based and focuses on the design of an entire product/environment. This encompasses the overall structure of the space and the detailing of the fixtures and fittings, including establishing users' needs, aspirations, and expectations and their development into a viable outcome that embraces design, prototyping and production.