Technology and trends shaping the future of product design
Ai
What-about-isms follow Ai more than any other news topic and it’s hard to know exactly what the future will hold. Newer tools and models will become available and it will be important to stay on top of it. We know Ai can help us research and generate sometimes useful images and our dependence on this will increase over time. Ai generated 3D printed prototypes may be the most useful ability among product designers when that bridge is crossed. In the further future it’s reasonable to say that products will be more personalized to each user since Ai is able to iterate designs instantly.
3D printing
3D printing was exclusive for a long time due to high prices and advanced technical skills required to use it. Desktop 3D printers are affordable and reliable. More and more people have access to creating prototypes and custom-made products.
Sustainability
Not just sustainable designs, but designs that looks sustainable are also successful, albeit less ethical. Consumers want to feel like they are doing the responsible thing. Yet recycling is not reliable because people don’t do it enough, it’s resource intensive anyways. Designing biodegradable and reusable products are most important for reducing our carbon footprint. New plastics made from recycled material are being developed by large companies. It’s still plastic, but the benefits are there compared to other plastics. Sustainable design requires a give and take.
Personalization
Consumers want their individuality expressed in more ways. There are thousands of shows and movies on Netflix to fill market gaps for niche interests, it’s happening in products, too. Product designers will use Ai to sift through data to created products catered to different niches.
Multi-functional
Everything is also something else. My Instant pot is actually 7 types of cookers, my microwave is an air fryer, and my phone does more than make calls. As consumers become more aware of the importance of sustainability, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and convenience, there will be a growing demand for multifunctional designs.
AR/VR/XR
Emerging technologies that have yet to be practical enough for people to own a piece of the tech. Product designers have been using it though and Ai could expedite AR/VR/XR development. Designers will have more immersive experiences while creating products to better meet user needs and desires.
Biomimicry
Nature ever follows Human Centered Design because humans are nature. The direct and indirect attributes of natural things will continue to influence design materials, shapes, and structures.
Inclusive design
Universal Design is the heart of Inclusive Design. This is designing for more people 55+ than any time in history. It’s designing for individuals and designing for the masses. When products are designed with inclusivity in mind, they are often more intuitive. Products can be more accessible to people and it can create a more equitable world.
Ethical design
The practice of designing products that are socially and environmentally responsible. Ethical design ties in with common empathetic considerations like workers creating the product and the product’s lifecycle. Cradle to cradle, this explores all facets of the product’s impact on the environment, including how the designer designs the product.