Research team
Training for the future in relation with the circular economy.
Abstract
Tailor-made ecodesign course for the industry. Focus of the courses from worker (e.g. helping to sort the various waste streams) to the CEO (necessity of implementing ecodesign in business operations). The main focus group is R&D with the aim of integrating ecodesign into the design process.Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Van Doorsselaer Karine
Research team(s)
Project website
Project type(s)
- Research Project
Development and validation of a new framework for the integration of technical and consumer-experience-based materials selection throughout the design process.
Abstract
With the emergence of new materials, the available set of materials is rapidly growing both in type and number, each with their own characteristics and applications. Hence, materials selection in product design is a complex and costly process. Since people interact with materials through products, the products' materials should not only meet technical qualifications, but also appeal to the senses of the consumer, attribute specific meanings, provoke intended emotions, and be context-specific. Consequently, industrial design engineers should be supported in integrating these different material understandings, and especially in taking the consumer perspective into account. This research will focus on closing the knowledge gap in continuous materials selection support - customised to the evolving multidisciplinary needs of industrial design engineering - throughout the entire design process, with special focus upon consumer-centred aspects of design. The success of new products depends upon their adoption by end consumers and, therefore, particular attention should be paid to designing products in such a way that they appeal to these consumers and their consumption context [1]. The overall research objective is to develop and test a generic framework to support early (new) materials decisions, integrating technical and consumer-experiential aspects. The conceptual basis of the study project combines two methodologies: 'Research in Design Context' and 'Design Inclusive Research', that provide frameworks in which 'design' is considered as an evolving research process to arrive at a new product that is both technically optimal and consumer-centred. A stepwise research design combines existing data (literature review), consumer insights (workshops), insights in motives and criteria for material choices (qualitative research, quantitative model building with professionals) and case studies (validating of the methodology with companies) The research project thus attempts to provide and test a methodology to bridge the current technical - consumer-experiential imbalance in industrial design engineering and to enhance the consumer perspective in this process. It can also improve the adoption of new materials and products. The theoretical and methodological contribution is that the project aims at developing and testing a new framework for materials selection in the design process that integrates both perspectives, for an increased adoption of newly developed products in the market place. A combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches and inductive and deductive reasoning in a mixed methods approach is used.Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Moons Ingrid
- Co-promoter: Du Bois Els
- Co-promoter: Van Doorsselaer Karine
- Fellow: Veelaert Lore
Research team(s)
Project type(s)
- Research Project
Design from Recycling.
Abstract
The aim of the Design from recycling-project is to provide the necessary information for the Flemish SMEs and to support the design of product that are manufactured from recycled plastics. Additionally, the project also focuses on determining the sustainability level of these products. The target groups are on the one hand the Flemish companies involved in developing and manufacturing plastic products and on the other hand recyclers of plastics. Design FROM recycling is not the same as the already well known Design FOR Recycling, in which the focus is on designing recyclable products. The main research questions are: a) How do we design specifically with and for recycled plastics? b) How do we efficiently match recycled material flows and potential products? c) what is the added value of products made from recycled materials (compared to virgin materials) in terms of eco-efficiency and resource efficiency?Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Du Bois Els
- Co-promoter: Van Doorsselaer Karine
Research team(s)
Project type(s)
- Research Project
Applications of biobased plastics in extrusion processes for durable end products (DURBIO).
Abstract
This project represents a research agreement between the UA and on the onther hand IWT. UA provides IWT research results mentioned in the title of the project under the conditions as stipulated in this contract.Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Van Doorsselaer Karine
Research team(s)
Project type(s)
- Research Project