Tufan OREL

Consultant in Design Management

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Abstract
This paper proposes the study of a new design criterion which can be called “Eclat-Of-The-Designed- Objects”. It can be studied on its own merits with other important design criteria such as form, function or ergonomics. Research devoted to the conspicuous or luxury market has sometimes been associated with this criterion. But focusing mainly on the cultural aspects of Eclat it has not thoroughly questioned the ontological status of these Eclat objects (or bright objects) and the complexity of their perception by the user. In this study these objects are examined in a triangulation of Culture, Object and Perception.
In particular the section on perception will take into consideration some philosophical and neuroscientific views on the percepts of designed objects.

Keywords
Form; bright objects; ontology; perception; luxury consumption.

Marinella FERRARA, Chiara LECCE

Department of Design, Politecnico di Milano

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Abstract
Due to the increased complexity of materials and production processes, the responsibility of the development of a design is often left in the hands of technicians and production personnel. This lack of knowledge about materials thus effectively creates a barrier between the designer and the product. Bridging this gap represents a challenge to designers and especially to the design schools. Designers cannot know everything but they can open their minds and develop a more conscious understanding of this new field of design practice starting from a cultural point of view. This paper wants to present a research promoted by the Design Department of Politecnico di Milano and funded by FARB (University Funds for Basic Research), for the creation of a Research Centre named MADEC, with the ambition of recognizing peculiarities of Italian Material Design Culture, and tracking their evolution in the contemporary era of “tailor made materials” as technological paradigm. The paper is divided into three parts: the first part concerns reasons, motivations and research state of the art; the second part describes in detail the research activities developed during the first year of the project; and the third part is dedicated to conclusions with some critical considerations and future actions.

Keywords
MADEC; Material culture; Italian Material Design; Transdisciplinarity; Creativity-driven Material Innovation Methodology.

Ana Glória NEVES, Emília DUARTE

UNIDCOM, IADE — Creative University

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Abstract
The aim of this paper is to present a reflection about the potentiality and interest of Virtual Reality (VR) for innovation in the Basic Design education. Basic Design is about affording meaningful learning experiences to the newly arrived design students while introducing the design fundamentals. Without approaching real design problems, but abstract phenomena creation, Basic Design allows unique opportunity for self-expression and discovery. At a present course named 3D Design Lab, different construction principles provide combinatory training for generation and transformation of surfaces/patterns, volumes and spaces, according to the transformative geometry. Abstract forms manually crafted at hand scale foster a methodology for structure complexity while developing an aesthetic-projective attitude. In this context, several challenges faced by the students, such as bonding with the abstract forms; imagining different possible applications for them in the real world; and others, can be overcome within the alliance with VR. This technology is also known for promoting a sense of presence that positively affects the designer in the creative process, improve spatial visualization and, in certain conditions, enhance students learning outcomes. As discussed further, VR might impact positively the teaching and learning experiences at the course, and hence, Basic Design. Consequently, we will present the origins, utility and main theoretical concepts of Basic Design and 3D Design Lab, as well as introduce VR, its main advantages and inconveniences. Finally, possible ways of using VR in Basic Design education are advanced, from a conceptual point of view, hoping to motivate the research community for further study this possibility.

João F. FIGUEIREDO^a, Nuno C. CORREIA^b, Inês SECCA RUIVO^c and Jorge LINO ALVES^b

^a DEMec, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto
^b INEGI — Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto
^c CHAIA — Centre of Art History and Artistic Research, University of Évora

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Abstract
Transdisciplinarity gained importance in the 1970s, with the initial signs of weakness of both multi- and interdisciplinary approaches. This weakness was felt due to the increased complexity in the social and technological landscapes. Generally, discussion over the transdisciplinary topic is centred in social and health sciences. Therefore, the major challenge in this research is to adapt design research to the emerging transdisciplinary discussion. Based on a comparative and critical review of several engineering and design models for the design process, we advocate the importance of collaboration and conceptualisation for these disciplines. Therefore, a transdisciplinary and conceptual cooperation between engineering and industrial design disciplines is considered as decisive to create breakthroughs. Furthermore, a synthesis is proposed, in order to foster the cooperation between engineering and industrial design.

Keywords
Design process; transdisciplinarity; industrial design; engineering

Sandra Regina RECH

Santa Catarina State University

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Abstract
The fashion research involves a type of perception and construction of the perspective in order to understand the social context in which it operates, but also with detachment capacity and reflection on this context on the values that distinguish itself about the desires that are managed and generated by those who live in it. So combining traditional forecasting methods with new methods to react more quickly to the consumers’ wishes is currently a challenge for most brands and creators. Today, situational factors and technological advances have forced the configuration of new methodologies, called Future Studies, which enabled medium and long term planning, with the active information in dynamic conditions of the decision-making processes. It can be seen that future studies are complex, intricate and include a wide range and depth of classes and plans of observation and analysis. Therefore, the work was bibliographic nature, presenting the various classi-fications and approaches found in the literature, with the intention to unify the understanding of the meanings of the various expressions alluding to future studies, avoiding theoretical confusion, conceptual errors or indiscriminate applica-tion of synonymous concepts found in the literature.

Keywords
Future Studies; Fashion Research; Fashion Trends; Prospective; Forecast.

Clarissa MARTINS ALVES, Priscilla GONÇALVES LOPES and Luiz Salomão RIBAS GOMEZ 

Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina

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Abstract
This article reflects on the aesthetic experiences in the city from the perspective of city branding. The discussions about cities have been drawing attention to how people relate to them and their transformations, and, consequently, their new opportunities. Firstly, the article focuses on a theoretical revision about the related topics, such as urban trends, aesthetic experiences and city branding. Then, through a qualitative study of a subjective analysis of two urban trends described by the BMW Guggenheim Lab, it moves on to some examples of websites/apps which apply the concept of experience in the city. Finally, we suggest some insights related to city branding actions focused on experiences.

Keywords
City Branding; Brand Experience; Urban Trends; Aesthetic Experiences.

Farley FERNANDES^a,b,  André NEVES^b

^a Digital Media, Universidade Nova de Lisboa
^b Design, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco

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Abstract
Agile paradigm, due to its historical proximity with software’s world, finds itself mostly connected only with some areas within design field, such as Interaction Design and Usability. This is the reason why the scope of this investigation will try to widen it to Design Thinking, which is underexplored nowadays and will enable us to focus more on conceptual phases of product creation. A really relevant theme from the design and agile conjunction is Little Design Up-Front, LDUF, which corresponds to the minimum amount of design to be developed in each project cycle in order to prevent waste generation in the future. In spite of its mentioned relevance throughout literature, this issue is still not addressed in a full methodical form by design. We hypothesize that it can be addressed through the exploitation of a theoretical foundation for LDUF in three dimensions: Lean Thinking, Incremental Innovation and Design Thinking. Here we will develop a theoretical comparative analysis within this framework, which will enable to come up with preliminary theoretical implications for design field in further studies regarding Little Design Up-Front. This study is part of an ongoing larger research that aims to promote strategic alignment between design activity and the context of agile software development.

Keywords
Design thinking; design methods; agile methodology; incremental innovation; lean thinking.

Amanda QUEIROZ CAMPOS^a,
Luiz Salomão RIBAS GOMEZ^b

^a Department of Industrial Design, Berguische University Wuppertal;
  Department of Graphic Expression, Federal Univeristy of Santa Catarina

^b Department of Graphic Expression, Federal University of Santa Catarina;
  UNIDCOM, IADE — Creative University

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Abstract
This paper is the part of an ongoing study on a methodology for trend analysis focusing on innovative design. It endeavors to expose an alternative theoretical composition of a background for trend research and analysis. By introducing a wider comprehension of the term trend, the study presents the concept of a meme¹ as theoretical support in order to perceive society as introduction nets, as acknowledged by Symbolic Interactionism. Parting from documental bibliographic research on social sciences, neuroscience, anthropology and overall qualitative investigations, we built a theoretical foundation for the further development of a prospective trend research methodology — which will result from the work’s continuality.

Keywords
Research methods; design research; innovation; interdisciplinary; trend analysis.