Prof. Martin Topel
This is a special focus area in the UWID model. Technical product development must be based on a profound knowledge of the materials, construction, and manufacturing processes of modern industrial products.
Technical design trains analytic skills with respect to housing structures and technical functions and components, in order to explore the scope they allow for the designer.
The UWID model tasks students with the design of a relatively simple technical product, focusing on the one hand on technical structures, electronics, electromechanics, mechanics, ventilation, cooling etc., and on the other on housing architecture and plastic injection moulding. The interrelation of these aspects and their impact on functional and formal considerations is examined.
Insights gained in the research phase are tried and tested in the concept and draft phases of redesign. Focus on the student's individual design work makes the didactic connection with the courses on manufacturing technology, plastics technology, CAD, and technical draw-ing. Manual modeling and finishing are practiced in combination with rapid prototyping.
Students learn in this module to:
- analyze and evaluate the complexity of simple technical products
- work to a project plan and coordinate its numerous external parameters
- link design scope with manufacturing technology
· understand innovative manufacturing technologies, especially in the area of plastic injection moulding
· develop the maximum number of variants within narrow parameters of decision
· develop maximum design depth in close-up and detail
· integrate professional CAD systems into the design process
· communicate via 2D and 3D data
Students are expected to deliver full product documentation along with a finished model, and to organize an exhibition.
Courses
- Technical drafting
- Fundamentals of computer-aided design/CAD2
- Manufacturing technology
- Interface ergonomics
Module Director
Prof. Martin Topel