Them and Us?: Exploring the collaboration between Industrial Designers and Engineering Designers

In the global marketplace, it is essential that well-designed products are produced within the shortest possible lead times. Manufacturers must therefore endeavor to utilize best practice for the efficient control and management of new product development. To enhance competitive advantage, industrial design has been increasingly used as a strategic resource in conjunction with collaboration with engineering design. This study discusses the findings of empirical investigations undertaken in 2006 that recorded the nature of interaction between industrial designers and engineering designers in Singapore. The research posed the following questions: i) How and when do industrial designers and engineering designers work together? ii) What leads to successful or poor collaboration? iii) What factors influence collaboration and can they be categorized? iv) Do representation tools affect collaboration? v) What are the characteristics for a successful tool for effective collaboration between industrial designers and engineering designers.