There are some common themes that encompass the

development of original ideas.

• These eight themes or categories provide a link between how designers generate innovative products and or processes and the types of products we see emerging throughout our society.

Eight themes

     SUPERIOR SOLUTION TO AN OLD PROBLEM    APPLICATION OF NEW TECHNOLOGY

     GREEN DESIGN      EXPLORING NEW SHAPES

      ADDRESSING A NEW USER GROUP      APPROPRIATE MINIATURISATION

     DOWN-TECHING    COMBINING FUNCTIONS

  

1. SUPERIOR SOLUTION TO AN OLD PROBLEM • Many aspects of an innovation address an

existing problem in a new way. New materials or processes may be incorporated into a design or invention of a solution to a problem.

• The problem may be accepted by society as the limits of a product until a further development is undertaken and this new ground-breaking solution emerges.

• An example of this type of innovation is the Dyson vacuum cleaner. Society had accepted the limits of efficiency of vacuum cleaners available to consumers. James Dyson developed a new system for dust extraction/ capture and challenged consumers’ preconceived idea of the limits of domestic cleaning appliances.

• Other examples include the new materials developed for swimsuits used by Olympians and other athletes to gain an edge upon their competition, e.g. Ian Thorpe. The governing body had to assess the new swimsuit technology to categorise its effectiveness and aide capacity.

2. APPLICATION OF NEW TECHNOLOGY

• New technology provides society with the raw materials to enable designers to approach a problem from a different aspect. For example, how we receive and process information has been totally changed by the development of the Internet. Some designers may find new ways of using technology.

How much information can mobile phone systems handle?• Photonics is an area of new

technological development that will provide for emerging development of products and systems. For example, Fibre Bragg Gratings, a new Australian technology, will assist the communication industry in developing an optimum network.

• Other examples are infrared transmission and robotics and the controversial genetic modification of plants and animals. Even the facelifting BOTOX injections have revealed a side effect found useful in treating migraine headache and muscular spasms associated with cerebral palsy. Interestingly BOTOX was originally developed as a biological warfare tool (used in higher doses than current applications).

3. GREEN DESIGN

• The impact on society and the environment of products and systems developed by designers is becoming increasingly important. Whether by choice, or because of legislation, many designers are now considering the effects their designs may have on the environment: human ergonomics and the natural environment.

 1. Via their processing throughout production, usage and waste at the end of the product’s life cycle.

2. Designers of domestic appliances and personal computers are also considering design for disassembly. This involves making components that can easily be identified and processed at the end of their life cycle.

This can be seen with common household appliances that have become designed for extended use. For example, food processors, blenders and extractors that share a common power centre so that only one item needs to be purchased to perform multi-functions instead of three or more. Power tools have also undergone a similar trend in design.

• The energy source utilised by products such as photovoltaic cells in solar appliances has undergone recent re-design to provide greater efficiency and viability for domestic use. Examples include items from climate control systems for housing to the simple outdoor garden light.

4. EXPLORING NEW SHAPES

• Design fashion and styles often determine how the end product will appear to/ for the consumer. Products may have a status attached to them without regard for the products function. Trends in the fashion of design in recent years have been towards curves in many product exterior components. For example, the Eveready Dolphin Torch has changed from the brick shape to a more curved form without major changes to its functioning components.

• The function of a product may also drive the design towards changing form and aesthetics. This can be evidenced in the development of the carbon fibre bicycle.

5. Addressing a new user group• Mainstream design caters for the majority of a

projected market population. Some groups within the community may require specific design needs to be addressed by adaptation of existing products or the development of products specifically for a need. Examples of this type of design may be evidenced in areas of physical ability; mental ability; disposable income.

• Products such as a keyboard adapter for computer use by cerebral palsy sufferers. Also, devices to aid limited grip as experienced by arthritis sufferers, such as tap turners and jar openers.

• A product to suit a specific need may be seen in the design of the Cochlear implant. This product assists a deaf person to hear and is part of a system implanted to benefit a new user group.

6. APPROPRIATE MINIATURISATION • Some large products may find an increased

application when miniaturised. For example, the telecommunication industry has undergone rapid innovation and emerging technology focus in recent years. This may be evidenced in the development of mobile phones and associated systems; laptop computers; home theatre systems.

• Inappropriate miniaturisation may include those items that have been rendered functionally inadequate due to changes in form. For example, wristwatch calculators that have buttons so small thereby making the task of using the calculator nearly impossible. A portable television/DVD player that does not have sufficient screen size for comfortable viewing.

7. DOWN-TECHING

• Many products in our society are aimed towards the consumer market. There are extensive opportunities for designers to improve the quality of life for the non-consumers of the world.

• Designers may also provide products for those members of society who wish to reverse the trend of high resource use and dependency.

• A high tech product such as a radio or electric system for a community can find a new application through down-teching. Radios have been developed with power sources from solar to wind up mechanisms. Solar street or village lighting and water heating systems as well as electrical supply for domestic appliances.

Alternative material use

• Developing countries have many needs that may be addressed by alternative material use for products. For example, bicycle frames made from bamboo, demountable wheelchairs made from wood/ bamboo. Resources may also be recycled from consumer rich countries. For example, in Australia there are programs that currently disassemble unwanted bicycles to utilise their components to reuse as raw materials for wheelchairs. These are made available for individuals from developing countries who would otherwise be severely hampered in mobility.

8. COMBINING FUNCTIONS 

• The design of a product that incorporates a range of functions may be considered innovative. Combination products such as the Swiss Army knife are an example of a range of functions within a product. However, some of the individual components may be seen as having little value and are more of a sales gimmick on multi-functionality.

• Other products such as a floor rug that may be easily converted into a lounging chair, or a cradle rocking chair stretch the limits that society pre-conceives for the use of particular products.

• Function is not always the driving force or the ultimate state for a product to achieve. Aesthetics of products are a feature that society may place value upon. Combining functions may also challenge creative urges to design products that respond to the environments we live in.

• Examples can be evidenced in Australian society in common products such as caravans, camper trailers, yachts, multi-function ovens, kitchen appliances, power-tools, sofa–beds.

TRENDS

• By looking at innovative products and analysing what makes them innovative, we may find features that could be incorporated into future design. We can see the trends that emerge throughout society as fashion and innovation tempt the consumer the driving force behind product acceptance and financial success.

 

• Often innovation is linked to problem redefinition, that is, looking at a problem in a different way. This allows for the designer to have a clear picture of the whole problem and re-evaluate accepted limits. This is perhaps the highest form of innovation.

INGENUITY OR STUPIDITY?

• Trends in Australian society today are largely governed by the needs of the community.

• Design and production activities aim to satisfy the needs of the community.

• The following examples are a small indication of innovative design activities that are currently being undertaken by Australians either independently or as part of a team.

CURRENT TRENDS 1. BIOTECHNOLOGY

The mission of Prana Biotechnology is to develop therapeutic drugs to treat the central disease pathways that cause degeneration of the brain and the eye as we age. Prana aims to play a major role in providing therapies for age-related disease, initially focussing on the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and thereby preserving the "life force", the "Prana", within each and every sufferer of the disease.

• Prana Biotechnology is developing therapies for a broad spectrum of age-related diseases, based on technology arising from a series of discoveries about the causes of major age-related diseases.

• The discoveries have emerged from the laboratories of Professor Ashley Bush and Professor Rudolph Tanzi, at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and the laboratory of Professor Colin Masters at the University of Melbourne and the Mental Health Research Institute.

CURRENT TRENDS 2. ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

 • The Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems

(CSES) is part of the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology at the Australian National University

• CSES invented a thin crystalline silicon solar cell technique called Epilift. In this process a thin layer of silicon (50 microns thick) is grown on a conventional silicon wafer. The grown layer is peeled off and converted into a solar cell.

• Over the next year Origin Energy will make a decision about commercialisation of the technology. Recently Origin Energy was awarded $1 million by the Australian Greenhouse Office (RECP6) towards the cost of building a pilot plant.

CURRENT TRENDS 3. HEALTH

CURRENT TRENDS 4. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY • Redfern Photonics is an investor in

start-up companies within in the Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) sector. Australian based, with a focus on international markets, their investment reach is global, with portfolio companies having their headquarters in the USA, Germany and China as well as in Australia.

CURRENT TRENDS 5.  MANUFACTURING

• Hypersonic aerodynamics has been a major research activity at The University of Queensland over the last 20 years. The researchers in this group have been active internationally and, during that period, have been involved in collaborative research programs with about 20 universities and research organisations around the world.

CURRENT TRENDS 6.  TRANSPORT • The Permo-Drive system harnesses the previously

wasted braking energy of a vehicle, stores this energy and is able to release it back into the drive shaft as required. For example, a truck going down a hill or braking can store that energy for use at a later time. If the truck needs to accelerate or go up a hill, or through a gear change, the Permo-Drive system can be automatically activated to deliver additional torque to the drive shaft during periods of peak engine demand.

Environmental benefits 

• Reduction in exhaust, carbon and noxious emissions. 

• Reduction in engine exhaust braking noise.

• Reduction in brake dust pollutants.

CURRENT TRENDS 6.  ORGANISATIONS• The development of co-operative research

centres enables both government and private sponsorship organisations to develop design solutions in many varied areas especially those that are related to scientific technological advancement.

• University research centres also act independently and in co-operation with the CSIRO in many endeavours. For example, latest diet for well being on CSIRO web site.

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CONCLUSION

Where do these trends lead ?

In wealthier countries trends of design in our society are related to capital investment strategies and the role of Co-operative research centres (CRCs). This aims to bring together isolated groups towards sharing limited resources of expertise and finance to achieve goals in a competitive timeframe.