Developments in teaching approaches "the role of model making within the undergraduate product design process"

This paper examines the reasons for the use of model making as part of the undergraduate Product Design Process (PDP). It begins by discussing why model making is important to the activity of designing products, covering the exploration of 3D form, understanding of structure and process, scale, size, component mating, ergonomic consideration, communication of design intent and experimental learning. In the second section it examines the different types of models produced and the ways in which they are manufactured throughout the PDP and within an educational environment. This section will examine hand modelling with "soft materials", crafting hard materials, prototyping using manually controlled machine tools, facsimile models using manually controlled machines, models and prototypes using "low tech." Rapid Prototyping (RP), models and prototypes using "high tech." RP and virtual modelling. The paper concludes by presenting a case study of the UWIC model making method and using it to compare and contrast new and traditional processes within design education. It will discuss the place of hand modelling within a CAD/CAM driven process, the adoption of low tech CAM by non-expert users and the final project output in terms of a quality learning experience.