ABSTRACT
This concluding chapter provides four case studies regarding the use of representations in New Product Development. The first, GMC Case Study, describes how an Appearance Model of a power tool was produced to be used as a realistic demonstrator for an exhibition. The second case study from Thomas Mortimer describes the development of a low-cost, wall-mounted hand gesture controller, starting from extensive prototyping of electronics and Concept of Operation Models. Upon finalising the electronic architecture through Functional Concept Models and a System Prototype, the concept was realised by means of an Appearance Prototype. In the next case study, the design of the Spirula Speakers required experimentation with Production Concept Models to achieve the semi-finished product. As a result of using Additive Manufacturing, the firm was able to produce multiple Pre-Production Prototypes for testing and to minimise the number of parts for the final product. Lastly, Choudhury developed a portable air quality monitoring product for his university final year project. An electronic Functional Concept Model was first developed, followed by a System Prototype being built in a Plexiglas frame as a product demonstrator. Next, he produced a series of Study Sketches to explore the form of the product, progressing to the use of 3D CAD to achieve a more accurate realisation in which the final Appearance Prototype was fabricated using a combination of additively manufactured parts and manually produced components. Section 8.5 provides a conclusion to this book, summarising design representations within the context in industrial design practice, its application as part of the design process, and its relationship to solving ill-defined design problems and the framing approach within the reflective-practice paradigm.
