THE IST DESIGN STUDIO: a plan for action… by Manuel ... - In+

IST Design Studio October 2003_____________________________________________________________________________different viewpoints, e.g. engineering performance, spatial performance, cost, andfabrication, throughout design conception.The following research subjects are considered:• Design and emotion• Interaction design• Design technology• Design theory and history4.2 Topics for ProjectsThe projects represent the main characteristic of the IST Design Studio, in that they willprovide the necessary content to establish design competencies at the enterprise level.The projects considered by the launching of the IST Design Studio are grouped asfollows:1. Autoparts for the future.This topic will represent a major contribution of the IST Design Studio and will focus oncritical aspects influencing major suppliers in the car industry, with emphasis on thefollowing specific objectives:• Development of a database with materials and main manufacturing processes;• Design of specific autoparts, in close collaboration with leading designers;• Eco-design of auto parts: Establishment of typical dismantling sequence for a set ofvehicle. Guidelines for optimum recycling sequences. Software enabling theevaluation of the Environmental Impacts of design innovations on car components,over the Total Life Cycle;• New propulsion systems that may enhance function innovation by vehiclemodularizationIt should be noted that the current plan has been developed in close collaboration withINTELI and the recently established “Center for Engineering and Product Development,CEDP”, under implementation at Maia, North of Portugal. In addition, the companiesmore apt to deal with to the new rules of the global competitiveness have developedbusiness and engineering processes where the direct links to suppliers, clients andpartners are effective in a perspective of active and open collaboration. In this context,the Portuguese automotive components sector is being encouraged through specificstructural funds (namely the INAUTO project, under sponsorship from the Ministry ofEconomy) to establish such collaboration with universities. The challenge to theuniversities is to create the infrastructure, in physical and human terms to have theresponsiveness required and expected by the industry and by the society in general. Thelink between the INAUTO project and IST Design Studio will contribute to:o Dissemination through the industry of new technologies for collaborative work andadvanced engineering tools, suited to the application requirements.o Improving the technological knowledge and the learning capacities of the industrialcompanies in advanced technologies for design and product development throughindustrial case studies that will be performed from the conceptual modelling,17