Calls for papers

 

International Journal of Product Development

 

Special Issue on: "Transformations in Industrial Design: Emerging Trends, Approaches and Challenges"

Guest Editors:
Assoc. Prof. André Liem, Dr. Casper Boks and Dr. Martina Keitsch, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway
Dr. Lance Green, University of New South Wales, Australia
Dr. Ching Chiuan Yen, National University of Singapore, Singapore

Design is not simply about learning skills or making beautiful objects. It is the training of minds that will nurture the need to want to develop innovative ideas that impact and contribute to the global community.

Faced with future challenges, industry is supposed to show structural reform as well as the ability to produce client- and user-oriented solutions, along with innovations aesthetically distinct from those of competitors, in a cost-efficient way. This is not an easy task, but industrial design is a definite asset in facing the competition, because competence in design is what bridges the gap between the user’s perspective and technology-oriented product design.

To meet these challenges, future designers need to be prepared to operate efficiently and effectively in a design and development environment, which is highly competitive, fluid and collaborative. An industrial designer, functioning in a conventional manner as a design consultant or being employed by an organisation to produce design solutions, may soon be obsolete.

Within the context of globalisation, industrial design has taken up a significant role in the development of products and services for target groups, whose needs have become more diverse. As designers are increasingly aiming for new and innovative sourcing strategies to complement core activities, competitive advantage for these service providers will only be created through the development of innovative products, services and systems. Therefore, designers are required to become more and more proactive in engaging into right alliances to survive and succeed in a global market where end-users are becoming more demanding.

The aim of this special issue is to present a wide spectrum of topics within the overarching “umbrella” of industrial design. The issue focuses on the promotion and application of new concepts, approaches and emerging trends, that lead to innovative theories, products and methodologies.

Subject Coverage
Suitable topics include but are not limited to:
a. In terms of subject coverage:

• Design education
• Human factors/interaction design
• Universal design
• Designing with materials
• Technology-driven design; design for x
• Computer-aided (industrial) design
• Design research
• Design history and theory
• Cultural studies
• Eco-design
• Form development and aesthetics
• Design process and methodology
• Design management
• Strategic design
• Creativity and innovation

b. In terms of artifact coverage:

• Exhibition design
• Furniture design
• Product design
• Transportation design

Notes for Prospective Authors

Submitted papers should not have been previously published nor be currently under consideration for publication elsewhere

All papers are refereed through a peer review process. A guide for authors, sample copies and other relevant information for submitting papers are available on the Author Guidelines page

Important Dates

Manuscripts due by: 31 August 2007

Notification to authors: 31 January 2008

Final versions due by: 31 June 2008