Denna rapport har skrivits i samband med ett examensarbete i integrerad produktutveckling. Rapporten genomfördes under den avslutande kursen på designingenjörsprogrammet vid högskolan i Skövde 2008 i samarbete med företaget Lundbergs Möbler AB i Tibro. Rapporten redogör för designprocessen där en lösning för att integrera företagets iläggsskivor tas fram för deras matbord. Rapporten skildrar projektets olika delar från förstudie till slutligt koncept. Projektets inledande förstudie påvisade framförallt hur konkurrenternas lösningsprinciper ser ut, hur hanteringen av dagens iläggsskiva ser ut och dess hanteringsproblem samt ergonomin kring hanteringen av iläggsskivan. Det som framkom i förstudien låg därefter som beslutsunderlag för den fortsatta produktutvecklingen. Dessa områden gav en klarhet i om projektet var genomförbart och vidare vilka fysiska begränsningar och möjligheter projektet hade inför det fortsatta produktutvecklingsarbetet. Med den nya kunskapen bakom sig inleddes idégenereringsfasen. Här användes flera olika idégenereringsmetoder för att generera en mängd nya idéer. Idéerna utvecklades sedan för att därefter resultera i tre olika koncept. Förslagen pressenterades därefter för företaget som gick igenom koncepten och beslutade vilket koncept vi skulle arbeta vidare med. Efter företagets val använde vi oss av konceptvalsmatriser i den fortsatta produktutvecklingen för att nå fram till den bästa slutprodukten. Till sist framställdes en CAD-modell av det slutgiltiga konceptet och en teknisk prototyp tillverkad utefter denna modell. Prototypen gav en uppfattning om hur väl mekaniken hos konceptet fungerade. / This report covers the result of a final thesis in Product Design Engineering, in partial fulfillment of the Product Design Engineering program held at the University of Skövde. This report describes a project that was carried out in conjunction with Lundbergs Möbler in Tibro. The objective of the report is to convey the design process of integrating a table leaf into a Lundbergs dining table. The report will also present the product as it goes through the whole design process from idea, materializing in a prototype and concluding to a final concept/product. A pre study displays an overall view of product handling and current market solutions of today's table leaves, where handling issues and ergonomics of table leaf usage is illuminated. The information from the pre study has determined the feasibility of the project and has also been utilized as a foundation for a project specification upon which further product development can commence. With the information from the pre study as a foundation, the idea generation phase could begin. Different creativity methods are used to bring forth several innovatory ideas that can be utilized in improving the product. These ideas were improved on and evaluated to result in three different concepts. These concepts were then presented to Lundbergs Möbler who went through them and decided which concept to go forward with. Conceptual matrices were then used to steer further development of the product. When the concept was developed to satisfaction a CAD-model and a physical prototype has been built from the specifications and measurements from the CAD program. The prototype demonstrated the function of the mechanism that had resulted from the project. The prototype that resulted from integrating a table leaf in a dining table gave a functional mechanism that could be taken into production.

Problem: Färg har en stor associativ inverkan hos individer och är därför en viktig faktor vid varumärkesbyggande. Inom olika produktkategorier finns starkt etablerade färgnormer som följs men nu ser vi en utveckling på den svenska marknaden där etablerade färgnormer börjar ifrågasättas. Vi frågar oss vilka fördelar denna normbrottsstrategi har och hur den inverkar på konsumenter. Kanske har färgteorierna spelat ut sin roll och att det är dags för varumärken att bryta mönstret för att nå framgång. Vår frågeställning är således: Hur associerar svenska konsumenter färg till olika känslor, produktkategorier och varumärken? Vad tjänar varumärken på att bryta mot etablerade färgnormer? Syfte: Vi vill studera det glapp som finns mellan rådande färgteorier och det normbrott vi upptäckt på den svenska marknaden. Vi vill skapa en tydligare förståelse för konsumentens färgassociationer samt deras inställning till normbrottet för att undersöka vad varumärken kan tjäna på att avvika från färgnormen. Teori: Vårt teoretiska ramverk består av färgteorier, kommunikationsprocessen samt köpbeslutprocessen. Metod: Mailintervjuer med yrkesverksamma sker i syfte att sätta färg i ett produktperspektiv och vi analyserar meningsinnehållet i denna information för att se hur väl tillämpade färgteorierna är i deras arbetsprocess. Huvudstudien är riktad till potentiella konsumenter bosatta i Sverige och har skett genom ett webbaserat frågeformulär som sker genom ett bekvämlighetsurval. Deduktivt undersöker vi hur respondenterna förhåller sig till teorier om färg.  Del 1 i formuläret består av sluta svarsalternativ och testar vilken av elementarfärgerna respondenten kopplar till en given känsla enligt teorin. Del 2 består av bildfrågor som testar konsumentens förhållande till normbrottet ur ett produktperspektiv. Resultat: I mailintervjuerna med de yrkesverksamma åskådliggjordes en stor medvetenhet om färgteorier och färgens kommunikativa inverkan, färgvalet utgår från de emotionella reaktioner som färg väcker. Del 1 av undersökningen visade ett svagt associativt samband mellan färg och känsla enligt färgteorierna. Färgerna vit och gul hade högst respektive lägst associativt resultat. Det visades inga större skillnader mellan hur kvinnor och män svarat. Resultatet i del 2 visade en särskild benägenhet hos respondenter att välja en normbrytande färgsättning bland elektronikprodukterna. Slutsatser: Det visade sig att få respondenter är villiga att bryta mot färgnormer, vilket talar för tidigare forskning som säger att färgvalen ofta baseras utifrån vad de ska avbilda. Kvinnor och män tenderade att svara på samma sätt i båda delarna av frågeformuläret, vilket får tidigare diskussioner kring färgsättning och kön att kännas förlegad. Däremot valde en äldre åldersgrupp den röda TV:n. Arbete har betydelse då respondenter med heltidsarbete i större utsträckning valde att bryta mot normer. / Issue: Colour has great associative impact on individuals therefore colour plays an important role in brand building. We see a development on the Swedish marketplace where strongly established colour norms that are ruled in diverse product categories start to be called into question. We ask ourselves what benefits a break of norm has and how it affects consumers. Perhaps the theories of colour should be stepped away from and now it is time for brands to break the pattern for success. Our question is therefore: How do Swedish consumers associate colour to different emotions, product categories and brands? What can brands benefit from going against the established colour norms? Purpose: This study examines the existing gap between the current colour theories and the break of norm we have discovered on the Swedish market. We want to create a clearer picture of consumers associations of colour and their attitude to the break of norm in purpose to investigate what brands can benefit from deviating from the color norms. Theoretical framework: Our theoretical framework consists of colour theories, the communication process and the purchase decision process. Methodology: The mail interviews with professionals are done in order to bring suit in a product perspective, we analyze the meaning content of this information to see how well the applied colour theories are in their work process. The main study is aimed at potential consumers residing in Sweden and has been implemented with a web-based questionnaire that takes place through a convenience sample. Deductive, we examine how the respondents relate to theories of colour. Part 1 of the form consists of close-out response options, and test which of the elementary colours the respondent connects to a given emotion of the theory. Part 2 consists of picture questions that test the consumer's relationship to the break of norm from a product perspective. Results: The mail interviews with professionals showed a great awareness of colour theory and the communicative impact of colour. The color choice is based on the emotional responses that colour evokes. Part 1 of the survey showed a slight associative relationship between colour and emotion of the colour theory. The colour white showed the highest associative result and yellow showed the lowest. There were no major differences between how men and women responded. The results in Part 2 showed a particular tendency of respondents to choose a norm breaking colouration among electronic products. Conclusion: It turned out that few respondents were willing to break the colour norms, which points to previous research that says that the colour choices often are based on what they will portray. Women and men tended to respond similarly in both parts of the questionnaire, which make earlier discussions about colour and gender seem antiquated. However, an older age group tended to chose the norm breaking red TV. Employment is important, as respondents with full-time work increasingly chose to violate the norms.

The increasing impact of mass production and consumption behaviours have made sustainable product design an important issue in design literature in the last two decades. Studies in the early period focussed on research projects carried out in collaboration with multinational large-sized enterprises, owing to pressures from non-governmental organizations. However, recent studies about sustainable development have pointed out that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) rather than multinationals have a greater share of manufacturing and employment in both industrialized and industrializing countries. Unfortunately, in spite of the important role of SMEs, there is inadequate data and literature relating sustainable design practices to these firms. A lack of information and collaboration, caused partially by communication problems, has resulted in an absence of proper sustainable product design tools for these companies. Furniture enterprises in Ankara are the focus of this study because of the impact of product design in market possibilities and the spread of employment of product designers in the sector. Attitudes of staff and consultants of furniture SMEs regarding barriers and opportunities of sustainable product design are explored, and contrasted with overlapping points of existing product development methods and strategies in the literature. This work is intended to contribute to improved understanding and application of sustainable product design among furniture sector SMEs. To this end, interviews were conducted with 16 furniture manufacturing enterprises from the furniture industry, based in Ankara region and 5 freelance furniture designers cooperating with these enterprises. According to the results of the study, furniture sector SMEs are interested more in economic opportunities of sustainable product design rather than environmental and social aspects. Furthermore, a lack of information about environmental issues is observed in micro and small-sized enterprises / to overcome this situation, it is recommended that training sessions are organized to bring together researchers and practitioners.

Convergence is a topic that many point to as the driving force behind modern product development. The merger of similar devices into a single product form can create a number of advantages for both producers and consumers, but successful design must take more than just this into account. Convergence is the evolution of a product through a disruptive and uncertain environment of technology and user needs. While the digital revolution has certainly been the biggest recent disrupter to society and design, there are signs of convergence in both form and function that have occurred across many products, and product categories. Producers and consumers always clamor for devices that are useful and convenient, take advantage of the latest technologies, and yet remain intuitive, attractive, and easy to use. This paper will dissect the meaning of convergence in product design and provide a framework for understanding and dialog. Combined with an extensive survey and product mapping, this definition will then be used to delineate approaches and principles for the effective design of evolving products in today's changing environment. The findings of this paper will help designers make decisions when considering the trade-offs between aesthetics, functionality, and ease of use in technology based products.

In complex aerospace system design, making effective decision requires knowledge from all disciplines, both product and process perspectives. Manufacturing knowledge integration is most valuable during the early phase of the design since designers have more freedom, and design changes are relatively inexpensive. Yet, there is still lack of structured methodology that will allow feedback from the process perspective to show the impact of the design decisions in a quantifiable manner. The major metrics in the design decision as far as process is concerned are cost, time, and manufacturability. To incorporate these considerations in the decision making process without sacrificing agility and flexibility required during conceptual and preliminary design phases, a new set of software analysis tools are proposed. To demonstrate the applicability of this concept, a Hybrid Lifecycle Cost Estimating Tool (HLCET) is developed, and integrated to existing design methodology, Integrated Product and Process Development (IPPD). The ModelCenter suite is used to develop software architecture that seamlessly integrate between product and process analysis tools, and enable knowledge transfer between design phases. HLCET integrates high fidelity estimating techniques like process-based and activity-based into a hierarchical lifecycle cost model to increase the sensitivities of the top-down LCC model to changes or alternatives evaluated at the part or component level where tradeoff is required. Instead of applying arbitrary complexity factor to existing CERs to account for difference material or process selection, high fidelity tool can be used to related product and process parameters specific to the design to generate new result that can then be used to update top-level cost result. This new approach to lifecycle cost estimation allows for a tailored study of individual processes typically required for new and innovative designs. An example of a hypothetical aircraft wing redesign demonstrates the utility of HLCET.

<p>Denna rapport har skrivits i samband med ett examensarbete i integrerad produktutveckling. Rapporten genomfördes under den avslutande kursen på designingenjörsprogrammet vid högskolan i Skövde 2008 i samarbete med företaget Lundbergs Möbler AB i Tibro.</p><p>Rapporten redogör för designprocessen där en lösning för att integrera företagets iläggsskivor tas fram för deras matbord. Rapporten skildrar projektets olika delar från förstudie till slutligt koncept.</p><p>Projektets inledande förstudie påvisade framförallt hur konkurrenternas lösningsprinciper ser ut, hur hanteringen av dagens iläggsskiva ser ut och dess hanteringsproblem samt ergonomin kring hanteringen av iläggsskivan. Det som framkom i förstudien låg därefter som beslutsunderlag för den fortsatta produktutvecklingen. Dessa områden gav en klarhet i om projektet var genomförbart och vidare vilka fysiska begränsningar och möjligheter projektet hade inför det fortsatta produktutvecklingsarbetet.</p><p>Med den nya kunskapen bakom sig inleddes idégenereringsfasen. Här användes flera olika idégenereringsmetoder för att generera en mängd nya idéer. Idéerna utvecklades sedan för att därefter resultera i tre olika koncept. Förslagen pressenterades därefter för företaget som gick igenom koncepten och beslutade vilket koncept vi skulle arbeta vidare med. Efter företagets val använde vi oss av konceptvalsmatriser i den fortsatta produktutvecklingen för att nå fram till den bästa slutprodukten.</p><p>Till sist framställdes en CAD-modell av det slutgiltiga konceptet och en teknisk prototyp tillverkad utefter denna modell. Prototypen gav en uppfattning om hur väl mekaniken hos konceptet fungerade.</p><p> </p> / <p>This report covers the result of a final thesis in Product Design Engineering, in partial fulfillment of the Product Design Engineering program held at the University of Skövde. This report describes a project that was carried out in conjunction with Lundbergs Möbler in Tibro.</p><p>The objective of the report is to convey the design process of integrating a table leaf into a Lundbergs dining table. The report will also present the product as it goes through the whole design process from idea, materializing in a prototype and concluding to a final concept/product.</p><p>A pre study displays an overall view of product handling and current market solutions of today's table leaves, where handling issues and ergonomics of table leaf usage is illuminated. The information from the pre study has determined the feasibility of the project and has also been utilized as a foundation for a project specification upon which further product development can commence.</p><p>With the information from the pre study as a foundation, the idea generation phase could begin. Different creativity methods are used to bring forth several innovatory ideas that can be utilized in improving the product. These ideas were improved on and evaluated to result in three different concepts. These concepts were then presented to Lundbergs Möbler who went through them and decided which concept to go forward with. Conceptual matrices were then used to steer further development of the product.</p><p>When the concept was developed to satisfaction a CAD-model and a physical prototype has been built from the specifications and measurements from the CAD program. The prototype demonstrated the function of the mechanism that had resulted from the project. The prototype that resulted from integrating a table leaf in a dining table gave a functional mechanism that could be taken into production.</p><p> </p>

The early stages of a product’s design are a critical time for decisions that impact the entire life-cycle cost. Product designers have mastered the first generation; however, they currently do not have the ability to know the impact of their decisions on the multi-generational view. This thesis aims at closing the gap between total life-cycle information and the traditional design process in order to harbor sustainable value creation among all stakeholders involved. A framework is presented that uses a combination of a life-cycle costing methodology and an evolutionary algorithm in order to achieve a sustainability assessment for a true multi-generational component. An illustration of the implementation of the framework shows the value to current engineering scenarios. A foundation is also laid for the overall future vision of this work to utilize proper databases and existing design tools to evaluate the overall sustainability and life-cycle cost of multi-generational components.

The project consisted of developing an office workstation specially designed to compete at the Spanish market. The assignment was received from the Daifuku Designs, a design company in Barcelona, Spain. Daifuku Designs are well experienced in various kinds of product and interior design, but has not designed office furniture earlier. The project’s purpose was to introduce the company to the branch of office furniture. The research phase consisted in three different parts, a survey concerning office work that was handed out to Swedish and Spanish office workers and cleaning staff, studies of the world leading companies in the branch of office furniture and educational visits at different showrooms and offices. The project resulted in a desk that is offering a flexible space dividing system and a unique cord solution. The space dividers can be put anywhere along the desktop and are easily moved by hand. All the cords and cables are hidden in the desk and computers, phones, e.g. can be installed anywhere on the desk. The desk can be used both separately and in big office landscape. Flexibility is a common sales argument and the demand of this kind of flexibility is constantly growing. The trends to hire personnel and to work in temporary project groups are two reasons to the growing demand. The office furniture needs to be able to be used in different ways when the constellation of the project group is changing. It is a big advantage if the same desks can be used for different occasions. / Projektet bestod av att utveckla ett kontorsskrivbord, designat för att marknadsföras på den spanska marknaden. Uppdragsgivare var Daifuku Designs, ett designföretag i Barcelona, Spanien. Daifuku Designs har stor erfarenhet i olika sorters produkt- och inredningsdesign men har ej designat kontorsmöbler tidigare. Projektets syfte var att introducera företaget på kontorsmöbelmarknaden. Researchfasen bestod av tre olika delar, en enkät om kontorsarbete som gavs ut till svenska och spanska kontorsarbetare samt städpersonal, studier av världsledande företag inom kontorsmöbelindustrin samt studiebesök på olika showrooms och kontor. Projektet resulterade i ett skrivbord som erbjuder ett flexibelt avskärmningssystem samt en unik sladdlösning. Avskärmningarna kan sättas vart som helst längs skrivbordet samt kan lätt flyttas för hand. Alla sladdar och kabeldosor är gömda i skrivbordet och datorer, telefoner, etc. kan installeras vartsomhelst på skrivbordet. Skrivbordet kan användas separat så väl som i ett större kontorslandskap. Flexibilitet är ett vanligt säljargument, behovet av denna typ av flexibilitet växer hela tiden. Trenden att hyra in personal samt att jobba i projektgrupper är två anledningar till det växande behovet. Kontorsmöbeln måste kunna användas i många olika grupperingar när konstellationen i projektgruppen förändras. Det är en stor fördel om skrivbordet kan användas för många olika tillfällen.

Radio base stations contain equipment which enables the use of cell phones all around the world. ERICSSON is developing these stations and everything connected to the area, such as electronics, software and hardware. In a new project ERICSSON plans to make their hardware modular, to satisfy all their customers around the world even if their preferences differ. The task that was given to us was to develop a modular locking system to the radio base station cabinets.The concept was developed in an integrated working process that focused on a user centered final product. The process included the definition of the problem, preliminary studies of areas which are connected to the problem and a summary of the demands that the customers mediated in a list of requirements. The idea generation generated lots of ideas that later on were developed into different concepts. The concepts were evaluated before the final decision was made together with ERICSSON.The final product is a lifting handle connected to a rod and latch system, which already existed. A new mechanical function was created to make the new handle function with the old system. The locking system is modular and it is possible to choose which way to lock the handle, with a cylinder lock or a padlock. Only one module, the cylinder in the middle, needs to be switched to get the other solution. The other parts are the same; this makes the product modular. The lift handle is an entire new design, developed in the project.

Dans les sphères du développement durable, des modèles d’affaires et du design de produit, certains leviers rendent le croisement de ces trois sphères de plus en plus pertinent. Au croisement de ces trois sphères se trouve une opportunité de comprendre les relations existantes entre le design de produit et les modèles d’affaires afin d’aider les décideurs à développer des solutions davantage durables. L’approche méthodologique de cette recherche utilise un système complexe et est basée sur un paradigme pragmatique. En vue de répondre à la question « Dans quelle mesure des modèles d’affaires et le design de produit sont liés dans un contexte de développement durable? », cette recherche a soigneusement analysé trois cas: Better Place, une compagnie californienne ayant développé une infrastructure permettant le chargement des voitures électriques; Interface Inc., un manufacturier mondial de tuiles de tapis commerciales établi à Atlanta; et Métacycle, un concept d’entreprise développé par une équipe de chercheurs en design à Montréal. Chaque cas a été analysé en corrélant des aspects du design de produit à des éléments de leur modèle d’affaires. Les résultats montrent que dans le contexte du développement durable, le design de produit et les modèles d’affaires sont interdépendants. Les résultats peuvent être résumés en six points: il existe des relations applicables universellement; les innovations de design substantielles jouent un rôle important dans le développement durable; la « durabilité » peut être une qualité émergente d’un modèle d’affaires; les partenariats peuvent être vitaux pour l’intégration des systèmes; un modèle de services a des bénéfices et des limitations considérables; le design peut agir comme levier à l’utilisation d’énergies renouvelables. Pratiquer simultanément l’innovation du modèle d’affaires et du produit peut apporter une valeur ajoutée, susciter des opportunités et augmenter l’efficience sur plusieurs facettes. Toutefois, les risques et les coûts de tels procédés sont souvent très élevés. En aidant à comprendre et définir comment les trois sphères mentionnées plus tôt sont interdépendantes, cette recherche pourrait idéalement inspirer des recherches supplémentaires sur le sujet. L’application par des organisations de la méthodologie et des apprentissages résultant de cette recherche peut permettre à d’autres d’utiliser le croisement entre l’innovation de produit et l’innovation du modèle d’affaires afin de résoudre des enjeux sociaux et environnementaux complexes. / Certain drivers in the fields of sustainability, business models, and product design are making the intersection between these three fields increasingly relevant. At this intersection is the opportunity to understand the relationships that exist between product design and business models to help decision makers develop more sustainable solutions. The methodology of this research uses a complex systems approach and is grounded in a pragmatist paradigm. To answer the question “In the context of sustainability, in what way are business models and product design related?”, this research has carefully analysed three cases: Better Place, a US based company that has developed a charging infrastructure for electric cars; Interface Inc., a global commercial carpet tile manufacturer based in Atlanta, Georgia; and Metacycle, a company concept developed by a team of design researchers in Montréal, Québec. Each case is analysed by correlating aspects of product design to elements of the business model and assessing how these relationships affect the sustainability of the company. The results show that product design, business models, and sustainability are inextricably connected. The results can be summarized in six key insights: there are universally applicable relationships; discontinuous design innovation can play a vital role in sustainability; sustainability is an emergent quality of a business model; key partnerships support systems level integration; a service revenue model has significant benefits and limitations; design innovation can help drive the shift to renewable energy. Conducting business model innovation and product innovation simultaneously can have large payouts in the form of creating new value, uncovering opportunities, and increasing efficiencies many fold, however the risks and costs of such a process are often very high. Applying the methodology and lessons of this research to one’s own organization could help to uncover new opportunities for innovation and help create more sustainable solutions. This research, by helping to understand and define how these areas are inextricably related and interdependent, will hopefully inspire further research on the subject and help others to use the intersection between product design and business model innovation to solve complex problems, be they social, environmental or otherwise.