How will product designers work in the future? How can products be created with generative programs? My bachelor thesis deals with these questions and analyses different fields of applications for generative design based on three experimental examples.

picture 1: How topology optimization works

picture 2: Designing the shape before optimization

picture 3: Model making

The study has three different research fields. One of them is topology optimization, where the shape of a product is optimised. Therefore, making an analysis necessary, where the material of the volume and its parameters like the force on the body are set.
As a result the software shows how you could improve the form and reduce material. To showcase how the process works and how product designers could use the tool, I showed it on an Open-ended spanner.

picture 1: How to built up a trabecular structure

picture 2: different lattice structures

picture 3: deisgn progress, ski goggels

Trabecular structures are named after the inner filling from a bone. The structure stabilises the bone, making it still as light as possible. In combination with flexible material you can get different attributes inside of one part, even though it is the same material. As soon as the lattice structure becomes thicker, it is stiffer. When it becomes lighter it is also more flexible. These characteristics made it possible to create ski goggles out of one shape and a whole new design look.

picture 1: How to built the structures
picture 2: Different possibilities of parametric structures

picture 3: model making

Parametric structures are very well known in the field of architecture. For example, buildings from Zaha Hadid and Frei Otto. Combined with manufacturing methods like laser cutting, it is possible to create organic structures from two-dimensional material. To showcase one of the endless possibilities, I designed a swing made from interlaced structures. The structure is unique as it requires no binding material such as glue or screws.

Supervisors: Prof. Matthias Held, Prof. Franz Biggel

Hochschule für Gestaltung Schwäbisch Gmünd