IAR 560 Project Investigation Abstract

Significance of Issues
This project will explore the aid of digital media in relationship to the marketability and connections between a specific user group and the design intent of interior products. As digital media and mass production becomes increasingly effective in the accessibility and marketing of well designed products, a greater understanding of photo-realistic representation infused through digital media will provide a working model for emerging product designers. Respectively, consumer goods are increasingly marketed online in addition to the traditional print format. However, it is the ability to virtually produce an object before it is physically produced that allows a greater level of communication to be established amongst the designer, manufacturer, and consumer/client. This potential level of communication then becomes a formalized digital aid for the representation of a product designer’s original intent as it relates to the overall aesthetics and craft for the intended end-user.
Scope of Limitations / Research Methodology
The scope of this research will be limited to one specific user group due to the time constraints of fully investigating more than one user group within the remaining course of a semester. Due to the current nature of my overall design thesis, the selected user group for this investigation will be focused within urban communities. Additional limitations that will inherently be addressed through the process of this project will be the lack of experience with elected rendering software applications that operate as digital aids to the current marketing techniques of interior products for individuals within the demographics of urban settings. Therefore, the acquired knowledge of additional digital software programs that have not been previously utilized will be essential to the development of this research investigation. Additionally, the research methods for this investigation will include collecting data in regards to marketing standards and abilities through photo-realistic rendering previous to the year 2000. This collection of data can then be compared to the current photo-realistic rendering and marketing standards in order to obtain a greater comprehension of optimal digital representation techniques.
Outcome Expectations
The expected outcome of this project will provide a coherent model for designers to analyze the productivity of marketing their original design intent through the aid of digital photo-realistic representation. The developed knowledge as a result of this research investigation will also aid designers in assessing the appropriate forms of digital media for marketing and promoting a product verses the appropriate media necessary for the sole communication of acquired production techniques. – Kimberlie Wade