Basics Design: Design Thinking

Materials

Materials

The second decision in implementation

thinking is to consider the materials

that will be used for the production.

A wide range of materials and substrates

are available that will hold a printed,

stamped, engraved, carved, etched,

cut or painted image.

With a range of substrates available, there is no reason for a designer to be

restricted to using paper stocks. Designs do not have to be produced on

paper and extra meaning can be added to a design or message by using

something different.

Different materials have different tactile qualities and these can be harnessed

by a design and felt by the recipient. Use of alternative materials can add

different qualities to a design, perhaps making it more memorable or more of

a luxury item. For example, a textile manufacturer could use cloth as a substrate

rather than paper. This cloth could then be printed or embroidered. Likewise,

a metal producer could use metal that is die cut, laser cut, burnished, printed

or stamped.

The use of different materials may also increase the longevity of the design

product. It is all too easy to throw away a paper communication, but something

produced in acetate, metal or wood may be kept and even displayed.

The design thinking to employ materials at a higher level as part of a design

concept typically occurs as part of the ideate stage given that in this instance

the material is a fundamental design element. Use of novel materials can,

however, also present additional challenges at the implementation stage: higher

production costs and different timescales, for example.

Design Thinking

Implementation

Substrate

The material or surface to be printed upon. Substrates include paper, board, ceramic, cloth and metal.

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Title: Basic Design-Thinking

Client: QPL Size: 160mmx230mm

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