The VIP Method

From c,mm,n

Vision in Product Design

In product design, a Vision driven approach means that a project is based on a central thought that is used to create a coherent message and image. These are then used to create a coherent product that fits the central thought. In order to establish a vision the method 'Vision in Product design' is used. This method is developed by Prof.ir.M.B.van Dijk and Prof.dr.P.P.M.Hekkert. at the faculty of Industrial Design Engineering at the Delft University of Technology. More information about VIP can be found at Wikipedia

Approach

Vision in Product Design uses the guidance of a vision in order to develop products within a certain domain that is set in advance. The approach consists of five steps:

1. Destructurizing; this step looks at the original product and destructurizes it, establishing the interaction between the user and the product.

2. Old context; establishes the meaning the original product did have for its user in its original context. Here context factors can be distinguished: developments and trends are changing factors, while states and principles are static. This step defines 'what the product did'.

3. New context; this step establishes a new world (of the future) where some of the factors mentioned in the old context might have changed. These new context factors interact and shape a new context. Finally, a statement defines the opinion on this new context and gives direction to the project. The statement provides 'what the product has to do'.

4. The new user-product interaction; the new context also defines a new interaction between the user and the product. Defining this interaction determines to a large extend the characteristics of the new product.

5. New Product characteristics; in order to create the interaction designed in step four, the product needs specific characteristics which are defined in this step.