A Supporting Tool to Design with and for EM&Ts: The Materials Toolkit

Abstract

AbstractThe chapter gives an exhaustive description of the so-called EM&Ts toolkit, a collection of tangible samples displaying emerging materials and technologies and containing five samples for each EM&Ts. Aim of the EM&Ts transfer toolkit is to provide a tool to facilitate the understanding and application potentials of emerging materials and technologies. Every material example has its box, containing: (1) Physical sample, (2) An “Understanding” card: it provides basic knowledge about the material and the manufacturer, Technology Readiness Level, crucial characteristics, and features. The sensorial qualities and performance, sustainability, and smart properties are listed for a clearer understanding of the materials potential; (3) A “Shaping” card: it contains information about the manufacturing process, the form in which the material is available and possible transformations. This information is useful to understand how the material can be processed for production, finishing, and transformation, to get to the final product. The card highlights, which processes that, have been associated with the material so far; (4) An “Applying” card: it gives information and pictures about the field the material is currently used. The material characteristics are compared with other better-known alternatives. In addition, other potential applications are listed, associated with meaningful case studies. The toolkit was created to be used as an aid in educational contexts with students and during workshops with companies and professionals. It is a powerful tool to provide students with information about the materials and their opportunities and limits, and to inspire them during the concept development. On the other side, it has potentialities to provide decision makers of the company with information about the emerging materials and technologies, their opportunities and limits, and to inspire them for innovation in product development. The chapter describes the continuous iterative process through which the toolkit was created and evaluated. Indeed, the toolkits have been used and tested in the academic context, with more than 100 students of diverse design backgrounds during EM&Ts workshops in Spain, Italy, Denmark, and Finland but also in professional context, during participative workshops with 94 companies, design studios, and professionals.