Integrated Product Design
Integrated Product Design understands product design comprehensively, across disciplines, systemically, and always in the context of the environment, people, technology and the economy. We no longer design "the chair", but the system "sitting". This may involve the creation of a new chair - but perhaps also a service concept for temporary office workplaces or a digital application with reminders to stand up regularly. We design product–service–systems, i.e. complex systems with physical touchpoints, as well as products with digital components. On the basis of new technologies, innovations are created that benefit people, do not harm the environment, and yet are successful on the market.
At the intersection of object, space, and architecture
We teach and research interdisciplinary at the intersection of product, interior design, and architecture. The focus is always on people with their social interactions, behaviors, needs, and desires. A human-centered approach with design research methods is therefore an elementary component of our projects.
Future-oriented and speculative
Integrated Product Design is future-oriented and speculative. We transform "existing states into preferred ones" (Herbert Simon, 1996). Design is therefore a "science of the possible" (Schneidewind, 2017). Unlike in traditional sciences, where the focus is on exploring and analyzing the world as it is, we design and explore possible futures. This approach includes methods of Critical and Speculative Design (Dunne and Raby 2013), but also classical methods of futurology, such as Delphi studies and scenario techniques.
Our Mindset: reframe, experiment, generate insight
Integrated Product Design is problem-solving - at the same time, we question which problem needs to be solved in the first place. "Problem reframing" (Dorst 2015) is therefore an essential part of our design process. We question the status quo and look for questions that have not been asked before.
We work experimentally – in the workshop, in the Living Lab, and with the hand. By making (including failure) experiences and insights emerge, which usually go through several iteration loops, are reviewed and tested, ultimately leading to a successful solution.
Research and teaching form a unity at the Chair of Integrated Product Design. The design process is always driven by the goal of generating new insights and making them available to the design community. Project results from teaching and research are published in design journals and at international conferences whenever possible.