Materials and Processes Textbook: Chapter 1 Reflection

After reading chapter 1 (because my book finally came in, YAY!) the basic premise seems to be that materials are important to consider when creating a product. That is a No-Duh kind of thought, but realizing that it is more than just the aesthetics of something, that it is also the tactile feel of a product in someone's hands, it's that way that it makes them feel that can add a whole new dimension to a product, which makes people love it even more. Solving design problems simply through switching production material can save lots of work and can also enhance the product, rather than the designer trying to find another way around the original material. Materials help with product functionality and personality, and both are important (although I would say something should work before it looks remarkable in terms of success.) Learning the material, how it works, what it's strength and weaknesses are, and learning how to join it with other materials is as important as knowing who you're designing for and the history of the particular product you're designing. Thinking about the three points listed (the surging maker movement, materials exploration around the world, and branding), there is TONS of external research that needs to be done for each project, and there is a lot of untapped information freely available, so adding that to your design process NOW is important. "Your product is your story, your story is your product" is a fantastic line to live by in design. Building your product and brand from the inside out is the most effective and fulfilling.

And the list from creamy center to outer shell is: Material, Product, Packaging, Identity, Retail, Digital, Service, Systems, Organization, and finally, Brand. The brand is like the pretty bow on top. It's the encasing of the entire package, and recognizing/building off of a solid foundation is the most important thing.

-Randa Marie