Main Page

Introduction Background System Overview Resources

Design Stages Concept Design Concept Development Embodiment Design Detail Design

Design Information Design Intent Form & Detail Visual Character Usability & Operation Scenario of Use Single Views Multi Views Areas of Concern Finishing Colour

Technical Information Dimensions Construction Assembly Components Mechanism Part & Section Profile Lines Exploded Views Material

Sketches Idea Sketch Study Sketch Referential Sketch Memory Sketch Coded Sketch Information Sketch Renderings Inspiration Sketch Prescriptive Sketch

Drawings Concept Drawing Presentation Drawing Scenario & Storyboard Diagram Single View Drawing Multi View Drawing General Arrangement Drawing Technical Drawing Technical Illustration

Models 3D Sketch Model Design Development Model Appearance Model Functional Concept Model Concept of Operation Model Production Concept Model Assembly Concept Model Service Concept Model

Prototypes Appearance Prototype Alpha Prototype Beta Prototype Pre-Production Prototype Experimental Prototype System Prototype Final Hardware Prototype Tooling Prototype Off-Tool Prototype

Background

The original development of CoLab was originally derived as one of the outcomes from a Loughborough Design School PhD research¹. The aim of this research was to improve collaboration between industrial designers and engineering designers during New Product Development. Literature review, action research, surveys and observations were used to collect data during the development of the CoLab system. Research findings indicated a need to facilitate greater understanding of the language and methods used by industrial designers and engineering designers. The key design representations employed during the design process were identified and surveys were undertaken to establish when they were used; and what types of information were utilised. The design representations were then developed into a taxonomy and the findings published in an academic journal². The data was subsequently converted into a physical playing card for use by industrial designers and engineering designers. This website mirrors the physical 114 double-sided cards as a more accessible medium to support the education and practice of designers at all levels. The development of CoLab has also been published in an academic journal³. A simplified format in the form of printed Z-Cards is also available upon request⁴.

References for the images used in CoLab have been credited in the PhD thesis¹. This site has been built to be used for reference and non-commercial purposes only. No part of this Website may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted or distributed, in any form without prior written permission.

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1. Eujin Pei (2009) "Building a Common Language of Design Representations for Industrial Designers & Engineering Designers". PhD Thesis, Department of Design and Technology, Loughborough University, United Kingdom

2. Eujin Pei, R. I. Campbell and M. A. Evans (2011) "A Taxonomic Classification of Visual Design Representations Used by Industrial Designers and Engineering Designers" The Design Journal, 14 (1): 64-91

3. Eujin Pei, R. I. Campbell and M. A. Evans (2010) “Development of a tool for building shared representations among industrial designers and engineering designers” CoDesign, 6 (3): 139 - 166, ISSN 1571-0882

4. Evans, M.A., and Pei, E., (2010) "ID Cards". Loughborough University, ISBN: 978 1 907382 35 2