A preliminary framework and case studies for product and systems design

Abstract

Design processes and methods for product design are not as effective when products have a systems component. Products can have a systems component when they are within the context of a system, are a component of a system or are systems themselves. A review of relevant design processes and frameworks is followed by three case studies describing the design process of three products, one in each category mentioned above. These are: a solar powered assistance system for handlooms, a biogas generation system based on food waste from the city's waste stream and a virtual assistant and online platform for people with vision impairment in India. Learnings from these projects are used to propose a preliminary framework for designing for products with a systems component. This framework proposes that the design process cannot be codified and must be approached depending on the use case. Research, concept generation, testing and post-product launch should involve research which considers the impacts of the product and system at large and small physical and temporal scales. The framework reframes the design process in terms of the design experience and capabilities of the designer. The designer constantly cycles between understanding the system and creating solutions through different parts of the design process. The thesis defines the broadened role of the designer must be capable of abstract thinking, have subject matter expertise and possess technical and interpersonal skills, enabling them to take on a leadership role. It then suggests that further professionalization of the field of product and systems design is necessary given the rising complexity of socio-technological systems and suggests changes to the education system to cope with this. Lastly, it stresses that creativity and intuition are critical and the design framework sets the ground for creativity to generate great designs.