Industrial Design: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow is a compilation of articles that highlight various aspects of the industrial design practice across a spectrum of time and provide insight into how designers are working today to prepare for what’s ahead. We’ve asked authors to provide practical tips and action items about their selected topic along with vivid visuals, which supply additional value to each article. For example, don’t tell us why design research is important; tell us how to run a successful design research program and turn insights into industrial design success. It’s only through knowledge exchange and the sharing of ideas that readers come away with a fresh perspective and actionable insights ready to be implemented into their work.
In keeping with the theme, INNOVATION has teamed up with Brian Paschke, creative lead at Google/Fitbit, for an exclusive four-part series to highlight the importance and impact of visual design language systems in industrial design. In this issue, Brian shares an in-depth look at the Fitbit design language system called “Biologic.” The system is inspired by and designed for the human body, providing the design team the flexibility to frame problems, explore forms, deliver wide-ranging concepts, develop packaging, select materials, and more. For the remaining issues of 2022, Brian will interview designers to learn more about how top global brands are building and implementing visual design language systems.
We are also excited to introduce what we hope will become a longstanding, recurring column titled “ID Essay.” (Hint: Say it aloud; it sounds like I-D-S-A!) It will feature behind-the-scenes stories about products as told by the people who designed them. Steven Umbach, FIDSA, is curating this series, which will predominantly feature stories by members of IDSA’s Academy of Fellows. Steven has written the premier essay, sharing the details behind his design of the Kurxweil 250 electronic keyboard. With the ID Essay column, we hope to provide a glimpse into the designer’s frame of mind and uncover rare archival sketches, renderings, and prototype images of days gone by.
On the cover - GOTCHU pad and tampon dispenser by Linda Bui designed to help period emergencies be as stress free as possible.
Preview
Guest contributors:
The Past, Present, and Future of Industrial Design by Ravi Sawhney, FIDSA
Will the Real Product Designer Please Stand Up? by Javier Verdura
The Need for Empathy: Designing for Product Comfort by Mohammed Imraan Jeelani
Less and More: A Much- Needed Future for Design by Gianfranco Zaccai, FIDSA
Mobile Ethnography: A New Methodology for New Times by Jonathan Dalton, IDSA
You Want Progress? Here’s How by Lea Stewart, IDSA, and the IDSA Women in Design Committee
Diversity Within the Industrial Design Profession by Claire Nelsen, IDSA
Designing Like da Vinci by Chris Ference
Immersive Design: What the Metaverse Means for Industrial Design by Paul Hatch, FIDSA
Integrating Virtual Reality into the Design Process by Ian Henshaw
Generative Design: A Tool for Collaborative Automation by Alex Lobos, IDSA
Visualization & Storytelling by Linda Bui and Tim Zarki
Featured content:
Tribute: Robert Blaich, FIDSA by Michael McCoy and Katherine McCoy, FIDSA
Tribute: Cooper Woodring, FIDSA by Kevin Shinn, FIDSA
Recruiting Before the Internet by RitaSue Siegel, FIDSA
Creating the Fitbit Biologic Design Language by Brian Paschke
In every issue:
Chair’s Report by Jason P. Belaire, IDSA
From HQ by Chris Livaudais, IDSA
Beautility by Tucker Viemeister, FIDSA
Design DNA - Exclusive Interview with Ross Lovegrove by Scott Henderson, IDSA
ID Essay by Steven R. Umbach, FIDSA
IDSA members will see a link to a digital version of the latest INNOVATION issues when logged in to the membership portal. Professional IDSA members based in the United States receive a free copy of INNOVATION four times a year as part of their member benefits.
Copies of past articles or full editions of INNOVATION can be ordered by calling 703.707.6000. Non-members can subscribe to the quarterly or become an IDSA member.