Bringing Modular Design Closer to Prosumers. A Guide for User-Centered Design

Asión-Suñer, Laura ; López-Forniés, Ignacio (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: Modular design has proven to have numerous qualities that contribute to bringing the product closer to end users. Through its module-based structure, users can adapt, customize or update their own products, among other actions. If we focus on prosumers (producers and consumers), we see that they can also carry out the design, assembly and manufacture of certain modules. However, these users are not used to following design methods but instead follow their own manufacturing-based procedures. In addition, their creations often contain small modifications that have a low level of innovation as they are not familiar with the conceptual design and abstraction of the product. This paper proposes an approximation of design methods to prosumers through a modular design guide centered on them. The innovation of this work lies in the absence of precedents directing design methods to prosumers, especially about modular design. Although some methods can be applied by non-specialized users, no analysis has been carried out to focus these methods on them. To achieve this, a brief analysis of the context and other design guides is carried out. Subsequently, a theoretical and graphic proposal of the design guide is made. A content structure based on five learning blocks is defined (introduction, characterization, ideation, conceptualization and evaluation) and a graphic format that facilitates its reading is proposed. Finally, the method explained in the guide is applied to a specific product in all its phases as an example so that the reader can more easily understand its operation.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-51623-8_46

Año: 2024

Publicado en: Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering (2024), 476-484
ISSN: 2195-4356

Originalmente disponible en: Texto completo de la revista

Tipo y forma: Artículo (PostPrint)

Área (Departamento): Área Expresión Gráfica en Ing. (Dpto. Ingeniería Diseño Fabri.)

Dataset asociado: Bringing Modular Design Closer to Prosumers. A Guide for User-Centered Design ( 10.1007/978-3-031-51623-8_46)