Analysis of dimensioning activities involving industrial designers: data sought, tools used, and validation process

摘要

The aim of this study was to improve our understanding of the dimensioning activities involved in industrial design: what is used, how it is used, and the strategies used to cope with difficulties encountered. Eight recent projects were documented using a case-study approach. The designers and their collaborators were interviewed on-site regarding the processes involved in the five design phases: analysis of existing objects, ideation, computer aided design (CAD) modelling, validation, and technical development, with a specific focus on the successive development of intermediary objects of conception (IOC). The study highlights the importance of the activities implemented to fill gaps in data, the implication of participants in various steps and perspectives, custom-made tools and frequent back-and-forth between real and virtual objects.