3.1 Materials in Design
In this chapter we begin to look more directly at the use of new
nanomaterials and nanotechnologies in design. There are already
many applications of nanomaterials in design, and more are
expected soon (see Figure 3.1). We look at these topics from the
perspective of designers and within the larger cultural-socioeconomic context in which designers operate.
Making effective design application use of new scientific findings
that seemingly appear every day within the nanomaterial field is
not as easy as might first appear. History is replete with examples
of seemingly fabulous scientific discoveries that surely seemed to
the discoverers to have huge potential applications in many areas,
only to have them lie idle for many years or not be developed at
all. Reams of studies in fields such as technology transfer have
looked into why this is so. Reasons vary widely but are rarely of
any surprise to individuals working in a real-world development
context. Design ideas may often be simply naïve, or design objectives can be confused or unclear. Target markets or user audiences
may be undefined or unclear, nonexistent, or simply not large
enough to be of commercial interest. Other existing products may
already accomplish similar desired ends better or in a more costeffective way than the proposed product. Proposed products may
never have been benchmarked against existing products. There
might not be adequate test results to convince anyone of the efficacy of the product. Actual manufacturing processes for converting
a science-based finding into implemental technology suitable for
use in a commercial environment may either not be actually feasible or be cost-prohibitive (or not yet explored enough to know).
There may be legal or institutional barriers that would prevent
41
The Design Context
Chapter 3
Nanomaterials, Nanotechnologies and Design
Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved.
In this chapter we begin to look more directly at the use of new
nanomaterials and nanotechnologies in design. There are already
many applications of nanomaterials in design, and more are
expected soon (see Figure 3.1). We look at these topics from the
perspective of designers and within the larger cultural-socioeconomic context in which designers operate.
Making effective design application use of new scientific findings
that seemingly appear every day within the nanomaterial field is
not as easy as might first appear. History is replete with examples
of seemingly fabulous scientific discoveries that surely seemed to
the discoverers to have huge potential applications in many areas,
only to have them lie idle for many years or not be developed at
all. Reams of studies in fields such as technology transfer have
looked into why this is so. Reasons vary widely but are rarely of
any surprise to individuals working in a real-world development
context. Design ideas may often be simply naïve, or design objectives can be confused or unclear. Target markets or user audiences
may be undefined or unclear, nonexistent, or simply not large
enough to be of commercial interest. Other existing products may
already accomplish similar desired ends better or in a more costeffective way than the proposed product. Proposed products may
never have been benchmarked against existing products. There
might not be adequate test results to convince anyone of the efficacy of the product. Actual manufacturing processes for converting
a science-based finding into implemental technology suitable for
use in a commercial environment may either not be actually feasible or be cost-prohibitive (or not yet explored enough to know).
There may be legal or institutional barriers that would prevent
41
The Design Context
Chapter 3
Nanomaterials, Nanotechnologies and Design
Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved.