Product Design Part 3 - aesthetics

A set of principles concerned with the nature and appreciation of beauty.

Form refers to the shape and colour of a product.

Technical functions of the product, and/or the need for aesthetics

Function refers to the technical functions of a product

• electronic circuit boards
• racing yachts
• racing cars
• racing bikes

(remember colour can be important, and can have ergonomic functions)

• cars
• motorbikes
• commuter bikes
• prams
• hairdryers
• etc.

(form of these is a compromise between function and other stuff like aesthetics)

• Subjective - can't be measured
• Objective - there is mathematical order
• Affected by conditioning & is dynamic
• Affected by symbolism
• Requires right combo of individual elements of beauty - challenging

can't measure beauty - it's an emotional response which varies between people

mathematical order is identifiable in e.g. cars, elements of architecture and music

people are conditioned to respond to things in certain ways - e.g. "military" or "romantic" music / "modern or "classical" architecture. People are conditioned to expect certain features e.g. car shoulder line

Dynamic because this conditioning can change over time. Pioneering designers can 'change the rules'

hour-glass waist often found in bottles

bottom line of car

demarcation between body panels and windows

Line at which the car begins to narrow in upper part (sometimes same as swage line)

Ridge along side of car near/on door handles (sometime called upper character line)

Additional crease lines in body work for character

Plastic trim along bottom of car

Added Plastic

Hot air outlet behind front wheel

Openings on bonnet or at front of car

At front of car - often specific design for each manufacturer

Section below door

Protrusion at top of car at rear

Separate spoiler on boot

Windscreen pillar

Driver's door pillar

Rear pillar

Angle of Windscreen

Amount of overhang from wheel to front (or back) of car

• Modern
• Contemporary
• Minimalist
• Industrial
• Mid-century modern
• scandanavian
• traditional
• bohemian
• rustic
• shabby-chic

• clean crisp lines
• simple colour palette
• metal/glass/steel

• similar to modern
• may include curved lines, modern doesn't

• very simple designs and shapes
• neutral and airy colour palettes
• simple, streamlined furnishings

• draws inspiration from warehouse/urban loft
• maybe exposed brick, ductwork, wood

• throwback to design of mid-1990s
• elements of minimalism

• relates to simplicity of life in nordic countries
• sometimes ll white colour palettes

• classic details
• sumptuous furnishings
• abundance of accessories

• eclectic
• e.g. ultra glam chandelier paired with well worn rug and mid-century chair

• inspiration from nature
• raw, sometimes unfinished elements
• wood, stone

• vintage-inspired
• softer, more feminine and delicate than bohemian etc

• functional
• modern
• sporty
• luxury
• futuristic

ergonomics takes priority, safety is paramount - fewer styles, all of which relatively simple

complete focus on ergonomics and convenience

• clean, crisp lines
• simple colour palette

• red seat belts
• deep bucket seat
• small steering wheel

wood or wood effect

• very clean
• minimalistic
• high-tech

• Aesthetics
• Association
• Cleanability
• Definition
• Safety
• Heat Absorption
• Cost
• Resale

Blue is seen as bright, cheerful, calming

• White - High tech
• Yellow, orange, bright red - fast cars
• black - power, importance
• silver, titanium - metal, machines

• white - poor (needs recleaning)
• black - can show smudges more than other colours

Dark blue doesn't reveal as complex shapes as e.g. white

Black - less safe for night driving

• black - absorbs heat, good for cold countries
• white - doesn't absorb eat, good for hot countries

• metallic, iridescent have different costs
• some colours cost more

green, brown - lower resale value

• Black  (20%) - Power
• Grey   (20%) - Blend in with background
• White  (19%) - like things to be clean
• Blue    (16%) - association with blue sky
• Silver  (10%) - impression of wealth
• Red    (10%) - flamboyant

• music - interval
• form - curve, line, pattern

• music - small interval
• form - blending

• music - phrase of notes
• form - section of product

• music - trill
• form - pattern

• music - military, romance
• form - bulbous, box, curved

• music - harmonics
• form - colour, highlights

• music - interval
• form - trim

• Aesthetics/Aero/Ergonomics
• (aero design compromised)

• Aesthetics/Ergonomics/Safety
• (Aero design compromised)

• Aero/Aesthetics
• (Ergo design not good)

• Safety/Ergonomics/Aesthetics
• (no comments, apparently these cars are perfection. who knew?)

• Ergonomics
• (Aesthetics/Aero not good)

• Aerodynamics
• (has inherent aesthetics)

• golden ratio
• nested ratios
• symmetry
• circles/ellipses
• quadrifolium (4 leaf clover)
• cardioids

• Bonnet
• roof
• wing mirror
• etc

Wheel arches blending with side character line

shoulder line across wheel arch

• windows
• wheels

alloy wheel spoke width

alloy wheel

smooth panels vs mesh of air intake

• common lines on side and bonnet
• common mesh on front and rear intakes
• common partition of air intakes at front and back
• bottom border behind and infront of front wheel
• ferrari badge x7

• Consistent basic layout
• consistent car types
• individual designs within a particular shape type

• micro - v small
• mini - small
• sedan - medium
• coupe - 3 door
• hatchback - large boot door
• small SUV - small sports utility vehicle
• standard SUV - 
• convertible - luxury
• supercar - VERy fast moving at incredible hihg speed
• minivan - people carrier

• corrugated panels (corrugation = reinforcement)
• thicc sections
• smaller windows (smaller means more protection)
• narrower above shoulder line (makes doors seem deeper/stronger)
• high floor base (higher means safer)
• deep engine compartment (big barrier before driver)
• thicc black rim around base (stronk reinforcement)
• big colours (white makes car look bigger and wider)

• people like change for the sake of change
• designers thinking about how to make the next car different
• new manufacturing processes
• (1990s - new processes allowed for curvy bodies
• recently - new light tech allows for novel front and rear designs
• designers always on lookout for new manufacturing capabilities)

• 1970-1990 - box cars
• 1990-2000 - curves started coming in, alloy wheels
• 2000-present - sophisticated, bold curves and edges

• associations - blood, fire, lava, roses, apples, ladybird, ball, balloon, sports car, joseph stalin
• emo/sym - warmth, passion, love, vigorous, exciting, irritating, danger, courage, communism

• associations - fire, sunset, orange (fruit), tiger, pumpkins, autumn
• emo/sym - heat, burning, glory, laughter, harvest, happiness

• ass - sunlight, daffodils, cheese, duck, birds
• emo/sym - brightness, liveliness, joy, happiness, egotist, intelligence, cowardice, decay, sickness

• ass - spring leaves, amphibians
• emo/sym - growth, youth, verdant, fresh, cheerfulness, peace, faith

• ass - leaves, grass, evergreens, froggies, pears
• emo/sym - restful, growth, relaxation, efficient, quiet, victory, environmental

• ass - sea, caribbean ocean, turquoise
• emo/sym - cool, clean, mystery, song, poetry, aloofness

• ass - blooberrys, water, sky, sea, ocean, david cameron
• emo/sym - loyalty, cool, spaciousness, safe, conservative, sensible, spirituality, serenity, mystery, truth

• ass - grapes, royalty, scarlet, the incredibles
• emo/sym - dignified, regal, seductive, wealth, melancholy, sadness, piety

• ass - barbie, young girls, pigs
• emo/sym - feminine, delicate, youthful, romantic, sweet

• ass - earth, dirt, wood, bread, dogs, bears, leather, chocolate, shit
• emo/sym - grounded, earthy, soft, furry, substance, stability

• ass - night, olives, dominoes, shadow, tuxedo
• emo/sym - mourning, dignity, death, formal, classic, elegant

• ass - clouds, milk, snow, polar bears, swans, sheep, porcelain, doves, ultimate frisbee
• emo/sym - purity, cleanliness, holy, winter

• ass - fog, shadow, elephant, pavement
• emo/sym - practical, timeless, classic, ambivalent, distance, shadowy

• ass - silver, platinum, steel, spoon, taps
• emo/sym - classic, cool, HM04, value, high tech

• ass - GOLD, always believe in your soouul, jewelry, coins
• emo/sym - value, rich, preciousness, radiant, warm

• form - safe
• surface colour - highly visible
• texture - comfy
• material - traditional
• graphics - legible
• tech - reliable

• form - crisp
• surface colour - black
• texture - matte
• material - plastic
• graphics - minimal
• tech - state of the art

• form - organic
• surface colour - not pure white
• texture - natural
• material - recyclable
• graphics - instructive
• tech - renewable

• form - robust
• surface colour - yellow (apparently, idk)
• texture - non-slip
• material - waterproof
• graphics - dynamic
• tech - split-second accurate

• SEAT - crossed character lines
• vauxhall minerva - stepped beltline, rear door opens the other way
• toyota aygo - futuristic lines
• Porsche - exaggerated shoulder lines
• BMW - upper character line through handles and petrol cap right to end (long straight line means speed, makes car seem slimmer)
• merc - character line below handles
• audi - above handles
• functional cars - fiat doblo/multipla
• honda frv - six seater, three seats at front

• 12
• 3 primary colours (RBY)
• 3 secondary colours (combine 2 primary colours to make a secondary colour)
• 6 tertiary colours (combine adjacent primary and secondary colours to make tertiary)

• pigment - produced by adding pigments (as with clothing)
• structural - produced by light reflection (as with thin film interference in peacock feathers)

differences

• structural less subject to fading, purer, deeper lustre
• structural sometimes iridescent - change with view angle

• tinting - adding white
• shading - adding black
• toning - adding grey

delicate, feminine colours - used for medical products and women's products

• considered more pleasing to the eye
• more complex, subtle, sophisticated

• dark - small
• light - large

• white - reveals shape and edges of bumper
• dark - curvature hard to see, colour remains constant, shadows contrast less, muffled by reflections

• yellow/ black - danger because of nature - wasps, snakes etc
• good for warning signs, too much not good for interiors
• similar with red/black

• blue
• green

• orange
• burgundy

grey

• metal particles suspended in the paint
• particles reflect more light
• gives car more attractive shine
• reveals car shape better than solid paint

• colour changes with angle of view (thin-film interference)
• contains precision thin reflective layers of translucent material
• inspired by some birds feathers
• can be used on cars now
• expensive

lacquer is applied to card to create shiny gloss

a measure of the intensity/quality of the colour

different textures can make the colour look different