Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis describes a module that links AutoCAD and CeDeas (cost estimation software which was developed by Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Stellenbosch). CeDeas is intended for estimating the direct manufacturing cost of simple welded assemblies in a batch production environment. It is aimed at use during late concept design or early detail design. The link module was developed in Borland C++ Builder. By using COM (Component Object Model) technology, the link module employs the methods and the properties of the AutoCAD automation interface to extract manufacturing information that is required by CeDeas. The link module prompts the user to pick objects in an AutoCAD drawing and then determines the values required by CeDeas to estimate the manufacturing cost. The user can choose between a "direct select method" (which uses the properties of geometric entities already in the drawing) and a "user define method" (whereby the user defmes temporary entities or combines aspects of existing entities in the AutoCAD drawing). With these results and some non-geometric inputs, the user can get a cost estimate of components and assemblies. After design changes, the link module can provide CeDeas with updated values with minimal user interaction in situations where the "direct select method" was used. The designer can therefore easily use the cost estimates to compare design alternatives to optimise the design. Validation studies demonstrated the numerical accuracy of the use of the link module. The link module can be regarded as an extension of CeDeas. At present it only supports AutoCAD R14, but can be extended to support AutoCAD 2000 and Mechanical Desktop. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Module wat dien as skakel tussen AutoCAD and CeDeas (kosteberamingsagteware ontwikkel deur die Departement van Meganiese Ingenieurswese, Universiteit van Stellenbosch) word in hierdie tesis beskryf. Die doel van CeDeas is om die direkte vervaardiginskoste van eenvoudige, gesweisde samestellings, in 'n lot-produksie omgewing, te beraam. Dit is gemik op gebruik tydens laat konsepontwerp en vroeë detailontwerp. Die skakelmodule is ontwikkel in Borland C++ Builder. Deur van COM (Component Object Model) tegnologie gebruik te maak, kry die skakelmodule toegang tot die funksies en eienskappe van AutoCAD se outomatisasie koppelvlak en kan sodoende die vervaardigingsinligting onttrek wat deur CeDeas benodig word. Die skakelmodule vra die gebruiker om voorwerpe in 'n AutoCAD tekening te kies en bepaal dan die waardes wat deur CeDeas benodig word om die vervaardigingskoste te skat. Die gebruiker kan kies tussen 'n "direkte keuse metode" (wat die eienskappe van geometriese entiteite wat reeds in die tekening is, gebruik) en 'n "gebruiker definieer metode" (waarin die gebruiker tydelike entiteite defmieer of kombinasies van aspekte van bestaande entiteite in die AutoCAD tekening gebruik). 'n Koste beraming van komponente of samestellings kan verkry word met hierdie inligting tesame met ander nie-geometriese inligting. Na ontwerpsveranderings, kan die skakelmodule hersiene waardes vir CeDeas voorsien met minimale gebruikers-interaksie in gevalle waar die "direkte keuse metode" gebruik is. Die gebruiker kan daarom maklik die kosteskattings gebruik om ontwerpsaltematiewe te vergelyk om die ontwerp te optimeer. Evalueringstudies het die numeriese akkuraatheid van die skakelmodule bevesting. Hierdie module kan as 'n uitbreiding van CeDeas beskou word. Tans werk die module slegs met AutoCAD R14, maar dit kan uitgebrei word om met AutoCAD 2000 en Mechanical Desktop te werk.

It can be shown that exceeding both utilitarian and hedonic needs of consumers leads towards greater satisfaction, delight and enduring consumer loyalty. If designers are to meet the progressively diverse needs of consumers, then access to consumer values, aspirations and the underlying logic of their social practice become increasingly important. If we accept that what people say, do and think are often different things, gaining access to these requirements is clearly a challenge. The challenge is not only concerned with how these requirements are accessed at source, through widely adopted ethnographically inspired techniques, but more towards how these requirements are communicated to the designer. There is a clear disconnect between the collection of consumer requirements and how these requirements are arranged and communicated as implications for design. This thesis details a governance framework for the output of ethnographically inspired research methods to provide an understanding of the arrangement and attributes a communication tool for ethnographic work should possess, particularly towards the more technical area of new product development. The framework bridges a gap between consumer research and design action, which may be used as an approach to facilitate innovation, targeted problem solving and offer creative direction for new product development. Following an exploratory review of the literature and a series of way-finding interviews with domestic appliance and consumer goods manufacturers, a pilot study was conducted to identify the philosophical and practical barriers faced by designers, when designing for consumer requirements beyond the functional. A detailed second level literature review explored the emergent themes and led towards a desktop review of over 30 different creative thinking design tools from the design & emotion movement, 24 different communication approaches for ethnographic work in design and a two year case study on communication within the design process.

Thesis (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The findings of an investigation into the requirements of a support system for distributed conceptual design in small and medium enterprises are presented. Distributed conceptual design refers to the collaboration of spacially distributed design teams during the early stages of the product development process. Three main elements of a support system were identified. The first element, 'Design Methodology', places a framework for specification development, functional analysis, concept generation and concept evaluation at the designers' disposal. It systematically guides the users through the different steps of the design process. These steps can be performed either alone, or together with other team members. The users are also aided in documenting their steps in order to allow the team members or designers of followup projects to understand the decisions made. The second element, 'Communication and Information Transfer', co-ordinates the communication between the distributed designers and provides a platform for the exchange of design-related data, e.g. customer requirements, ideas, sketches, comments, and decisions. A case study was carried out to assess the use of various tools for communication and information transfer during synchronous and asynchronous collaboration. The case study is described and the results are presented and discussed. Both elements make use of a support service providing various 'Input Devices for Conceptual Design', the third element of a support system. While standard tools such as mouse and keyboard meet the requirements of subsequent stages of the design process, they are often impractical in creating or annotating sketches. Various low-cost input devices were investigated. A framework was developed to integrate the three elements into one support system. The 'Distributed Design Assistant', abbreviated as 'DiDeas', is an Internet-based system that allows simultaneous multi-user collaboration. A relational database is located on a central web-server and stores all design information entered into the system. The user interface was realized in the form of a collection of Microsoft Active Server Pages, which can be accessed platform-independently via a standard webbrowser. The development of the database structure and of the user interface is described in detail. A second case study was carried out to evaluate the Distributed Design Assistant. The case study is described and the results are presented and discussed. The low-cost system has proven to be a very useful tool for distributed conceptual design. The Distributed Design Assistant systematically guides novice and experienced designers through the stages of specification development and conceptual design. It facilitates the easy collection and the fast exchange of a large amount of textual and graphical information during these stages. Although the system is relatively simple, compared to professional product data management systems used in later stages of the design process, it strongly enhances the productivity of designers and distributed design teams. Keywords: Distributed Design, Conceptual Design, Systematic Product Development / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die bevindinge van 'n ondersoek na die behoeftes van 'n ondersteuningstelsel VIr verspreide konsepsionele ontwerp in klein en medium ondernemings word aangebied. Verspreide konsepsionele ontwerp is die saamwerk van ruimtelik verspreide ontwerp spanne gedurende die aanvanklike fases van die produk ontwikkelingsproses. Drie hoof elemente van 'n ondersteuningstelsel is geïdentifiseer. Die eerste element, 'Ontwerpmetodiek' stel 'n raamwerk vir spesifikasie ontwikkeling, funksionele analise, konsep generasie en konsep beoordeling tot beskikking van die ontwerpers. Dit lei die gebruikers stelselmatig deur die verskillende stappe van die ontwikkelingsproses. Die stappe kan of alleen of tesame met ander lede van die span uitgevoer word. Die gebruiker word ook ondersteun met die dokumentasie van die stappe sodat die lede of ontwerpers van opvolgprojekte die besluite wat gemaak is, kan begryp. Die tweede element, 'Kommunikasie en Informasie Oordrag', koordineer die kommunikasie tussen die verspreide ontwerpers en bied 'n platvorm vir die uitruil van ontwerpinformasie, byvoorbeeld kliënte behoeftes, idees, sketse, kommentaar en besluite. 'n Gevallestudie is uitgevoer om die gebruik van verskeie gereedskapstukke vir kommunikasie en informasie-oordrag gedurende sinchrone en asinchrone samewerking te beoordeel. Die gevalle studie is beskryf en die resultate is bespreek. Altwee elemente maak gebruik van 'n ondersteuningsdiens wat verskeie 'Invoergereedskap vir Konsepsionele Ontwerp' voorsien, die derde element van die ondersteuningstelsel. Terwyl standard gereedskap, byvoorbeeld 'n rekenaar muis en sleutelbord, die behoeftes van die latere ontwerpsfases bevredig, is hulle dikwels onprakties vir die maak van sketse en byskrifte. Verskeie laekoste invoergereedskap is ondersoek. 'n Raamwerk is ontwikkel om die drie elemente in een ondersteuningstelsel te integreer. Die 'Distributed Design Assistant', verkort 'DiDeas', is 'n Internet-gebaseerde stelsel wat sinchrone multi-gebruiker samewerking moontlik maak. 'n Gekoppelde databasis is op 'n sentrale webbediener geplaas en versamel al die ontwerpinformasie wat in die stelsel ingevoer is. Die gebruikerintervlak is geskep as 'n versameling van Microsoft Active Server Pages. Toegang tot die stelsel is onafhanklik van die rekenaar bedryfstelsel en kan verkry word met 'n standard webblaaier. Die ontwikkeling van die databasisstruktuur en van die gebruikerintervlak is in detail beskryf. 'n Tweede gevallestudie is uitgevoer om die Distributed Design Assistant te beoordeel. Die gevallestudie is beskryf en die resultate is bespreek. Die laekoste stelsel het homself bewys as 'n baie nuttige werktuig VIr verspreide konsepsionele ontwerp. Die Distributed Design Assistant lei nuweling en ervare ontwerpers stelselmatig deur die spesifikasie ontwikkeling en konsepsionele ontwerp stappe. Dit fasiliteer die maklike versameling en die vinnige uitruil van 'n groot hoeveelheid teks en grafiese informasie gedurende hierdie stappe. Ofskoon die stelsel relatief eenvoudig is in vergelyking met professionele produkdata-bestuurstelsels, verhoog dit die produktiwiteit van ontwerpers en verspreide ontwerp spanne aansienlik.

With the continuous development in computer and communications technology the use of computer aided design in design processes is becoming more commonplace. A wide range of virtual prototyping technologies are currently in development, some of which are commercially viable for use within a product design process. These virtual prototyping technologies range from graphics tablets to haptic devices. With the compression of design cycles the feasibility of using these technologies for product evaluation is becoming an ever more important consideration. This thesis begins by presenting the findings of a comprehensive literature review defining product design with a focus on product evaluation and a discussion of current virtual prototyping technologies. From the literature review it was clear that user involvement in the product evaluation process is critical. The literature review was followed by a series of interconnected studies starting with an investigation into design consultancies' access and use of prototyping technologies and their evaluation methods. Although design consultancies are already using photo-realistic renderings, animations and sometimes 3600 view CAD models for their virtual product evaluations, current virtual prototyping hardware and software is often unsatisfactory for their needs. Some emergent technologies such as haptic interfaces are currently not commonly used in industry. This study was followed by an investigation into users' psychological acceptance and physiological discomfort when using a variety of virtual prototyping tools for product evaluation compared with using physical prototypes, ranging from on-screen photo-realistic renderings to 3D 3600 view models developed using a range of design software. The third study then went on to explore the feasibility of using these virtual prototyping tools and the effect on product preference when compared to using physical prototypes. The forth study looked at the designer's requirements for current and future virtual prototyping tools, design tools and evaluation methods. In the final chapters of the thesis the relative strengths and weaknesses of these technologies were re-evaluated and a definitive set of user requirements based on the documentary evidence of the previous studies was produced. This was followed by the development of a speculative series of scenarios for the next generation of virtual prototyping technologies ranging from improvements to existing technologies through to blue sky concepts. These scenarios were then evaluated by designers and consumers to produce documentary evidence and recommendations for preferred and suitable combinations of virtual prototyping technologies. Such hardware and software will require a user interface that is intuitive, simple, easy to use and suitable for both the designers who create the virtual prototypes and the consumers who evaluate them.

If you are living in Sweden, you´re likely to consume around 15 kg textile every year (Palm, 2011). Of those 15 kg, 10.5 kg are most likely produced in Asia (IPCC, 2014). When producing textile, greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane are emitted. These greenhouse gases are a big cause for the global warming and are having a direct effect on people. 17% of all deaths in China 2015 could be correlated to polluted air (Rohde & Muller, 2015). If people knew the consequences of their consumption it´s in our opinion that they would consume less. More awareness leads to less consumption and ultimately less destruction. Organizations/corporations try to get people to understand but the message doesn’t seem to reach out quite strong enough. In this thesis another approach is investigated. The approach is about spreading a message through sustainable produced clothes with an appealing design, and encouraging consumption. By choosing our sustainable clothes instead of other non-sustainable options the consumer helps solving a social problem, which the (appealing) design is inspired of. The design is not only appealing but also designed to educate the consumer which leads to a more aware person who consumes less. We have worked with and Agile Iterative process which enable us to quickly see results and make changes. The project started with a goal to produce fictive clothes with our approach in mind. This goal was changed along the process and the final result ended up as a model. The model guides the user through two major parts. Part One is to enable a sustainable base for the production of the product where one step is to find a social problem. Part Two is an iterative process which uses the social problem established in Step One as a source of inspiration when designing the product itself. The model encourages the user to iterate the product design process around different aspects of the product. The model can be used by itself as well as a part of a developing process. Our recommendations for further work is to develop the model so it can be used for other types of products. / Om du bor I Sverige så konsumerar du troligtvis ca 15 kg textilier per år (Palm, 2011). Av dessa 15 kg så är 10.5 kg producerat i Asien (IPCC, 2014). Vid produktion av textilier släpps miljöfarliga växthusgaser ut. Utsläppen består mestadels av koldioxid och metan och bidrar till den globala uppvärmningen och har en direkt påverkan på människor. I Kina kunde 17% av alla dödsfall registrerade 2015 relateras till förorenad luft (Rohde & Muller, 2015). Om människor visste konsekvenserna av deras konsumtion så skulle de i vår mening konsumera smartare och mindre. Mer medvetna konsumenter leder till mindre konsumtion och i slutändan mindre förstörelse. Det finns organisationer som försöker få människor att förstå och agera men budskapet verkar inte nå ut starkt nog. I detta examensarbete har en annan vinkel undersökts. Vinkeln handlar om att sprida ett budskap genom globalt och humant hållbart producerade kläder med attraktiv design som uppmuntrar till konsumtion. Genom att välja dessa hållbara kläder istället för andra icke-hållbara alternativ hjälper konsumenterna också ett utvalt samhällsproblem som designen är inspirerad av. Designen är inte bara attraktiv utan är även utformad för att utbilda konsumenten vilket leder till en mer medveten person som konsumerar mindre. Vi har arbetat med en Agil iterativ process vilket har låtit oss snabbt se resultat och göra ändringar. Projektet startade med ett mål att skapa fiktiva kläder som var designade kring ett samhällsproblem dit en del av försäljningsvinsten skulle gå till att försöka hjälpa. Denna vision ändrades under projektets gång och resultatet av projektet blev till slut en modell som kan användas vid produktutveckling av kläder. Modellen guidar användaren genom två faser. I den första fasen skapas en grund för hållbar produktion, den hjälper även användaren välja ett socialt problem som designen senare baseras på. Den andra fasen är iterativ process där själva produktutvecklingen äger rum. Modellen uppmanar användaren att iterera designprocessen kring olika designaspekter som fokuserar på en utbildande design. Modellen kan användas för individuellt eller som ett komplement i utvecklingsarbete. Vid fortsatt arbete skulle modellen kunna göras om för att passa andra typer av produkter.

Deux cents personnes participantes, issues de secteurs variés, ont composé trois champs d'expérimentations différent(e)s, afin de tester l'hypothèse de l'application des méthodes d'ingénierie dans le domaine de la conception du meuble, ainsi que dans celui de l'architecture d'intérieur. Nous avons obtenu un résultat concluant par rapport à l'analyse de la problématique, à l'utilisation de la méthode TRIZ dans le domaine de l'architecture d'intérieur, et à l'étude de la conception d'un meuble. Les étudiants sont parvenus à concevoir un espace complet doté de meubles spécifiques. La qualité des artefacts (58 artefacts), estimée par plusieurs experts, induit que la transformation des méthodes de la créativité dans le domaine de conception du meuble est une hypothèse envisageable. La dimension culturelle du projet, liée à l'application de ces méthodes en partenariat avec des étudiants étrangers de plusieurs universités du design de l'espace, est un argument décisif pour le soutien des méthodes de créativité en tant que source pédagogique et professionnelle du premier ordre / Two hundred participants from different sectors have made three different experiments (s) to test the hypothesis of applying the methods of engineering to the field of furniture design, as well as the interior design. We obtained a conclusive result from the analysis of the problem, by using the TRIZ in the field of interior design, and by studying the design of furniture. Students are able to design a complete space with specific furniture. The Quality of artifacts (58 artifacts) which are estimated by several experts have induced that the transformation of methods of creativity in the field of furniture's design is a possible hypothesis. The cultural dimension of the project, related to the application of these methods in cooperation with foreign students from several universities of space design, is a compelling argument for supporting creativity's methods as an educational and professional source of the first order

The aim of this thesis is to introduce fashion law as a cross-cutting legal branch which concerns many legal branches. In this work, the author focuses mainly on the regulation of the intellectual property law, which is absolutely crucial given the fact that the products of the fashion industry are the results of artistic creation. The introduction of the thesis is devoted to the history of the fashion law in the world and in the Czech Republic. The merit for the development and expansion of fashion law into awareness in Czech Republic belongs to The Czech Fashion Law Association. Further attention is focused on the design, its detailed conceptual and legal specification and familiarization with its types. Further on, the thesis deals with copyright protection of the copyright work. Copyright protection can be applied due to uniqueness and artistical value of the pieces. Particularly we speak about works of applied art, which are characterised by meeting the requirements of the daily needs except aesthetics impression. Industrial design protection is suitable for example for the protection of textile designs or the general original looks of products that fashion brands need to protect. The thesis is focusing on conditions, which need to be fulfilled for industrial design registration. It also...

Most people have experienced toothache and know how much it effects the health. It hurts to eat, it ́s hard to sleep and sometimes a small gesture as a smile is avoided because it pains to much. Of course animals have the same issue and feel pain but they can’t tell us how they feel, instead we have to look for signs from their behavior. The recommendation to regularly check the horse’s teeth does minimize the risk of pain. The knowledge within the field of equine dentistry is on the rise and educations and regulations is developing to give the best dental care possible. This has created a need of the right tools adopted to this specific field and this is where a company like Accesia has a chance to be at the forefront of this development. Accesia is a company that have developed tools and educations about the animal dental profession since 2009. Until now the focus has been on smaller animals like cats, dogs and rodents but now they are widening their customer field and develops for this new market, equine dentistry. To get a understanding of this new customers some field studies has been performed and needs that are separate from the previous customer needs has been identified. It ́s not only the size that differs from the dentist working with cats and dogs, it ́s also the working environment and the anatomic conditions that looks completely different. For this thesis the main goal has been to identify how a unit for the tools used by equine dentists should be structured and what parts that should be included to endure the transportation and environment where it will be used. To gain this information, several interviews were conducted with the main users and the experts working on Accesia. The gathered information where later analyzed, concretized and explored in a product concept. This report will go through the different stages in the design process that led to a final design concept which were presented with a prototype and posters at a thesis fair organized by Jönköping University.

Medical technology is a field of work with connection to prevention, diagnosis, monitoring, treatment and care. The company Human care is a well-established company in Sweden with red rollators seen all over Sweden. The product family of Human care has four different units of mobility aid solutions. These are lifting devices, rollators, healthcare beds, and convertible chairs. In common they share the same brand, but they do not have any clear connection to each other when it comes to form, colour and texture. In this thesis a visual brand language is developed and created for the company. At the same time, it is implemented and developed on a lifting solution for patient mobility in the healthcare. To find a brand language which should be easier to implement on the products investigations into the brand and products has been done. By trying to find a common ground in the current products the step from creation to implementation of a guideline will be smaller. Further, research has been done in colour psychology, ergonomics, surface textures and forms. The result of this thesis is a guideline which the company can use as a base when developing new products. In this thesis, it has been implemented on a lifting device for patient transportation.

This project consists of the design of a concept for a portable assistive seat in collaboration with IKEA. The aim of the project is to create a solution that fits within the Omtänksam family of products and shares the company’s values of what is so-called Democratic Design: Form - Quality - Low Price - Function – Sustainability The Omtänksam Family is focused on products that can help the elderly to have a more comfortable life while blending with the home environment. A portable assistive Lifting Seat is a real need for many people that require some extra help when standing up or sitting down. The main goal of this project is to design a cheap, safe, simple and light product that can assist people for reducing the effort that is required from them. The product must be comfortable, easy to transport and friendly to interact with. Considering a mass manufacturing perspective is very important to meet the previously formulated requirements. The force that the assistive seat releases must keep performing efficiently during the product service life. A locking system must be provided for avoiding the lifting force to act when the user is sitting, assisting only when it is demanded. This Thesis describes the process of designing a concept for a Portable AssistiveLifting Seat involving different areas such as ergonomics, semantics, manufacturing, mechanical engineering and materials science. The design approach in this case is driven by the Democratic Design Principles combining the human-centered design with a market perspective. The result takes advantage of form and material for avoiding the need for any extra lifting mechanism. This solution is way simpler than any other one existing in the market and it integrates the solution for many different problems in one single piece. This simplification of the problem allows reducing the production cost and helps to meet the intended requirements creating an innovative product for the market.