Industrial Design Research Articles

It is Still ‘Mezzogiorno’. The Topicality of Augusto Graziani's Thought

ABSTRACT The Mezzogiorno remains a major unresolved Italian issue. Significant changes in the production structure, policies aimed at supporting international trade, and European economic integration have indeed resulted in the growth of the Italian economic-social system while preserving an uneven and still dualistic conformation. In Graziani’s vision, seriously addressing the issue of the Mezzogiorno requires an ambitious and coherent industrial policy design, an action aimed at pushing enterprises toward a technological and dimensional leap. Foresightedly, he also argued that the issue should be analysed in a unified national context, given that the two economic realities of the North and the South are no longer separate (as they could still be in the early twentieth century) but are integrated and bound to a common destiny. The reasons for a persistent dualistic system must, therefore, be sought not in terms of how the development of the Southern regions has been achieved but by looking at the changes that have taken place nationally and in the northern areas. This lesson from Graziani is increasingly relevant today when considering recent events in Italian economic policy from a separatist and autonomist perspective. A topic, to use Graziani’s words, is still «burning in its relevance and topicality».

Measuring the “side effects” of tungsten recycling: Evidence from life cycle assessment

Abstract Tungsten (W), as “the teeth of modern industry,” is playing an irreplaceable role in the current industrial era due to its unique properties. Although the global primary tungsten supply is concentrated in China, the grade of such ore is deteriorating, leading to more consideration of promoting the reuse and recycling of tungsten scraps. However, the environmental impacts induced by tungsten recycling have not been investigated, which may influence the appropriate circular economy implementation along the entire tungsten industrial chain. This study aims to identify the “side effects” of tungsten recycling by comparing the pros and cons of primary/secondary tungsten production from a life cycle perspective. The environmental impacts of the primary tungsten production system (W‐PPS), direct recycling system (W‐DRS), and indirect recycling system (W‐IRS) are estimated by using 18 mid‐point indicators in human health, ecosystems, and resources categories. Results indicate that switching to W‐DRS and W‐IRS from W‐PPS could help reduce environmental burdens in terms of major mid‐point indicators, except human non‐carcinogenic toxicity and terrestrial ecotoxicity. Energy and chemical raw materials input contribute the most to the above environmental impacts. Based upon these findings, we propose that serious regulations should be implemented for both primary and secondary production systems, as well as appropriate urban mine actions and sustainable industrial design schemes.

Exploring Animation & VFX Techniques: A Comprehensive Study in Shaping Sustainability Development in Various Sectors

This study looks at how animation and visual effect technology are developing as cutting is instruments for promoting sustainability efforts in a variety of industries. The integration of animation and visual effect techniques has transcended entertainment to become powerful tools for communication, education, and innovation across multiple industries. This paper explores the evolving role of animation and VFX in promoting and shaping sustainable development across diverse sectors, including education, Healthcare, urban-planning, environmental conservation and industrial design. By reviewing case studies, technical advancements and interdisciplinary applications, this study presents a comprehensive framework for how creative digital media technologies can support the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs). The research highlights how animation and VFX enhance visualisation of complex data, simulate future scenarios and foster public engagement, thereby enabling informed decision making and sustainable practices. Ultimately the paper underscores the potential of these techniques to act as catalysts for sustainability through innovative storytelling, immersive simulation and impactful visible communication. According to the study there are four main ways that VFX and animation support sustainability objectives. • Immersible learning, • Virtual prototyping for sustainable design, • Improved presentation of complex environmental data, • Potential narrative tools for changing behaviour. This study examines how these innovative technologies can be used to address urgent global sustainability issues in the fields of urban planning, environmental education, and industrial design, healthcare, and energy systems. According to our research, there are several benefits to strategically combining VFX and animation techniques in order to communicate sustainability concepts, engage stakeholders, cut down on material waste, and hasten the adoption of sustainable practices.

Estimation of Friction Coefficients of Soybean Seeds with Soft Computing Approach

Determination of physical and mechanical properties of agricultural products plays an important role in the usage areas of the products and industrial applications. Correct determination and evaluation of physical and mechanical properties of agricultural products is of critical importance in determining the quality, durability and usage potential of the product. In this study, the relationship between moisture content and friction coefficients of Samsoy variety soybean seed, which is a trial material, was determined in order to contribute to making correct decisions in industrial design and material selection. The central aim of this research is to expose with different moisture contents and friction surfaces well-accepted data-driven models to predict friction coefficients for soybean seed using different soft computing techniques. Determination of friction coefficient of agricultural products is important in terms of design and functionality of equipment used in post-harvest technologies and agricultural applications. In the study, 3 different moisture contents and five different friction surfaces (steel, stainless steel, galvanized sheet, PVC, court fabric) were used. Artificial neural network (ANN), adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), group method of data handling (GMDH) are used to predict of friction coefficients. The best accuracy values were recorded as GMDH 7-7-1 for seven input and 7-15-1 model for five input structures for kinetic and static friction that were calculated performance criteria R2 = 0.99-0.98, RMSE =0.00004-0.00006 , MSE = 0.00009 -0.00011, respectively. These selected the best models predicted which can be used in the soft computing techniques determined different conditions to estimating the friction coefficient for soybean seeds.

Designing for Trust: Enhancing Passenger Confidence in Shared Autonomous Vehicles

Passengers’ trust in Shared Autonomous Vehicles (SAVs) can be affected by different factors, such as their attitudes toward new technologies and perceptions of the vehicles’ reputation. While the existing literature has begun to explore these issues, there is limited research investigating how industrial design in SAVs can enhance passengers’ trust levels. To address this gap, this study responds to the central question: How can passengers’ trust in the vehicle itself and in fellow passengers be enhanced through design intervention? This question conceptualises trust in the vehicle and trust in strangers as an integrated trust issue within the SAV context. To fill this gap, this study adopts a project-grounded methodology. The design work is guided by five trust principles: anthropomorphic design, a defensible space, system transparency, personalisation features, and a restorative environment. Drawing on insights from an auto-ethnography of current ride-sharing services, these principles are further explored and applied to identify design opportunities for both the physical and digital elements of SAVs. The final conceptual SAV design demonstrates how different design elements can be orchestrated to engender user trust. The outcome contributes to ongoing design practices and helps researchers and designers better understand trust design for SAVs.

Project Development through Transdisciplinary Work Teams: An Educational Strategy for Training and Outreach in the Area of Industrial Process Design

Project Development through Transdisciplinary Work Teams: An Educational Strategy for Training and Outreach in the Area of Industrial Process Design

Skala Keekonomian Terkecil Pabrik Bioplastik Starch-Cellulose Blend Berbahan Baku Tandan Kosong Kelapa Sawit

Empty oil palm bunches processed by palm oil mills in Indonesia are still abundant, reaching 56.35 million tons per year. Empty oil palm bunches contain around 40% cellulose, so they can still be used for various derivative products, one of which is composite products. The use of empty oil palm bunches as raw materials for Bioplastic production is a series of ongoing research, one of which is starch-cellulose blend, but until now it has not been successfully commercialized. The design of the starch cellulose blend bioplastic industry using palm oil as raw material produces two factories, namely a cellulose factory and a composite bioplastic factory. Both factories are designed in separate buildings. The separation of cellulose from TKKS uses a chemical method with soda, after mechanical treatment of size reduction. The industry is designed in 3 scales of production capacity, namely a large scale of 190,000 tons / year, medium 115.00 tons / year, and small 40,000 tons.year. The financial analysis of the three scales of production capacity as a whole is declared feasible. Profit margin is calculated at a minimum of 17.6%. The average payback period is between 3-5 years with an IRR of 24-49%. Analysis of the economic value produces an EScale index of 0.64 which indicates that the economic scale has been achieved. The economic scale of the starch cellulose blend bioplastic industry from TKKS is at a production capacity of 40,000 tons per year with a minimum supply of TKKS raw materials of 20,203 tons/year. At the smallest economic scale, the BEP is actually only 6627.4 tons/year, where this condition can be achieved because the industry has relatively small fixed costs.

Effect of Rubber Granulate Content on the Compressive Strength of Concrete for Industrial Vibration-Isolating Floors.

Ensuring vibration and impact isolation is crucial in industrial flooring design, especially where vibroacoustic comfort is a priority. Excessive vibrations can negatively affect sensitive equipment, structural durability, and personnel comfort. With the rise of automation and high-precision processes, effective vibration control in floor systems is increasingly important. Traditional solutions like elastomer pads, rubber mats, or floating floors often have high installation costs, complex construction, and long-term degradation. Therefore, there is growing interest in integrated, durable alternatives that can be incorporated directly into concrete structures. One such approach uses rubber granulates from recycled tires as a modifying additive in cementitious composites. This can improve damping, enhance impact energy absorption, and reduce the need for external insulating layers. However, adding rubber particles to concrete may affect its compressive strength, a key design parameter. This article presents experimental research on concrete and mortar mixtures modified with rubber granulates for vibration-isolating industrial floor systems. The proposed solution combines a conventional concrete subbase with a rubber-enhanced mortar layer, forming a composite system to mitigate vibration transmission. Laboratory tests and real-scale verification under industrial conditions showed that the slab with hybrid EPDM/SBR rubber granulate mortar achieved the highest vibration-damping efficiency, reducing vertical acceleration by 58.6% compared to the reference slab. The EPDM-only mortar also showed a significant reduction of 45.5%.

The power of playful work design in the hospitality industry: Mapping the implications for employee engagement, taking charge and the moderation of contrived fun

The power of playful work design in the hospitality industry: Mapping the implications for employee engagement, taking charge and the moderation of contrived fun

Transformation of Post Industrial Areas Into Public Open and Green Spaces; Ankara Maltepe Gasworks Example

Transforming post-ındustrial areas into public spaces is a common practice in urban areas. Maltepe Gasworks in Ankara, Türkiye, was selected for this study. The research aims to develop a new landscape design that enhances the area’s ecological, historical, and economic assets. In this context, the study consists of four stages. In the first stage, literature research was conducted. In the second stage, a SWOT analysis was carried out. Later, a new industrial landscape design proposal was developed for the region, taking into account ecological, historical and economic considerations. Finally, the current situation of the area and the new landscape design are compared. The SWOT analysis and neighborhood analysis used in the study revealed that the region lacks a historical identity and a green connection. With the new landscape design proposed for the area, a landscape design that takes into account ecological, historical identity and economic parameters has been developed. With the study, the area's historical identity, ecological and economic value have been allocated. In addition, the amount of green space is increased and the relationship between other green spaces is further strengthened with the proposed industrial landscape design.

Impact of green innovation on environmental issues: Findings from BRICS-T countries based on spatial analysis

ABSTRACT This study examines the impact of green innovations on environmental sustainability in BRICS-T countries between 2008 and 2021. Using indicators such as renewable energy consumption, R&D investments, industrial design activities, and carbon emissions, the analysis employs both conventional and spatial panel estimation techniques. The findings reveal that investments in renewable energy play a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions and positively contribute to environmental sustainability. However, the effectiveness of environmental innovation policies and R&D expenditures in mitigating emissions remains limited, particularly in the short term. Additionally, industrial design activities are identified as a significant contributor to rising emissions, highlighting the need for a transition toward more sustainable industrial practices. The study also uncovers spatial dependencies among countries, demonstrating that carbon emissions in one nation can influence those in neighboring countries, emphasizing the necessity of regional cooperation and coordinated environmental policies. Based on these findings, the study provides policy recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of green innovations, stressing the importance of increasing investments in renewable energy, aligning R&D expenditures with environmentally sustainable technologies, and promoting sustainable industrial practices across BRICS-T countries.

ONLINE COLLABORATIVE SKETCH-STORMING APPROACH IN CONTEMPORARY TEXTILE DESIGN MOTIF DEVELOPMENT

The practice of textile design mostly depends on personal sketches, which produces repetitive motif variations instead of new creative ideas. Researcher explored the effectiveness of sketch-storming activities conducted online for developing creative textile motifs. The experimental session assembled 60 textile design students to carry out virtual sketch collaboration with digital software. Researchers analyzed the motifs through both qualitative and quantitative assessments based on their quantity and variety as well as novelty. Online collaborative sketching produces better creative results because it generates more original unique motifs than working individually on sketches. Students confirmed that working together in this environment triggered creativity because it fostered both shared inspirations along with continuous exchange of innovative ideas. The research demonstrated that live collaborative work combined with software version management and quick operational tools creates the perfect conditions for enhancing creative work. The study highlights important features which boost creative performances through real-time evaluation feedback as well as the opportunity to take risks and utilize iterative designing systems. Research findings demonstrate that educational and industrial applications of online sketching collaboration mechanisms will fuel disruptive motif development. This research enriches the digital ideation tool investigation by showing their capacity to advance creative result production while revolutionizing the textile industry design methods.

‘PARTICIPATION’ AS A STRATEGIC AND CONSTRUCTIVIST PEDAGOGICAL APPROACH IN DESIGN EDUCATION

This study discusses that enhanced participation have the potential to enhance learning by establishing a more grounded dialogue between instructors and students in the design studio. It draws upon the constructivist view of project-based design learning and the concept of participation, defined as a mutual and continuous learning process. First, a workshop was conducted with instructors and students to set a foundation for the main discussion through participants’ views. Then, the outcomes were implemented in a second-year undergraduate industrial design course. A semi-structured interview was conducted with a focus group in addition to an interview with the course coordinator. The results show that participation helps students make sense of both design and learning processes, despite diverse motivations and preferences in learning and participation.

Industrial Design for bio-inspired solutions in coastal protection

Coastal erosion, extreme climatic events, and biodiversity loss are major consequences of climate change, posing significant threats to both the environment and society. Addressing these challenges has led to a growing focus within industrial design on innovative, interdisciplinary approaches inspired based bioinspired design. Natural ecosystems have evolved over millions of years to create highly efficient structures that dissipate wave energy, stabilize shorelines, and support biodiversity, offering valuable models for sustainable coastal protection. These biological principles serve as a reference model for the design of high-performance and sustainable coastal defense solutions. This study reviews the state of the art in coastal protection systems and introduces the conceptual development and preliminary experimental validation of simplified bioinspired models designed to enhance shoreline resilience. The hydraulic efficiency of these models was assessed through experimental testing, exploring their potential as innovative mitigation strategies against irregular and extreme wave conditions. This research contributes to the development of next-generation submerged barriers, inspired by the morphology and functionality of natural systems, constructed from sustainable materials, and optimized for both hydraulic efficiency and ecological support. Following a top-down approach, key functional traits of biological structures were analyzed, abstracted, and translated into three distinct bioinspired design solutions for coastal protection. The results provide a foundation for advancing sustainable coastal protection strategies, demonstrating the added value of bioinspired solutions in enhancing both shoreline resilience and ecological integration.

A Tissue Engineering's Guide to Biomimicry

ABSTRACTBiomimicry is a broadly used term in many fields such as in architecture and industrial design to pharmacology and many others. Biomimicry tries to replicate a product or process that occurs in the natural environment. However, due to the broad use of the term biomimicry it becomes unclear what is exactly being mimicked. Specifically, in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM) where research is focussed on mimicking complex native tissue, the term biomimicry is often used to designate a single aspect. Therefore, in TERM biomimicry can be clustered into to three different categories correlated to the aspect that is being mimicked: i) mechanical ‐ that has a focus on obtaining the correct mechanical properties of a tissue; ii) morphological ‐ that aims at recreating a scaffold that has a similar morphology to its native counterpart; iii) biological ‐ that has a prime focus on recreating the biological microenvironment that is found in the targeted tissue. This review discusses the strategies and methods how these different forms of biomimicry can be achieved with the current techniques available.

Analytical and Graphical Profiling of Thread-Milling Cutters for Forming Internal Threads

Accurate profiling of thread-milling cutters is one of the main prerequisites of high-precision internal thread production. Despite the accuracy of analytical methods, their complexity in most instances makes practical application an issue. The current research addresses a graphical profiling method, the Tangent Circles Method, introduced by the authors for the facilitation of thread-milling tool geometric design. Several thread-milling cutters were designed employing this method, and their working surface profiles were compared with those obtained analytically. The comparison showed a good match, with profile deviations within acceptable manufacturing limits. CAD-based simulations also demonstrated that rake angle and relief height parameters significantly influence the resulting tool geometry. The results validate the Tangent Circles Method as a mathematically sound and industrially viable tool-profiling method for industry use. Its easy application and precision make it a reliable choice over analytical methods in internal thread-milling cutters’ industrial design.

Near-injector hydrodynamic perturbation and its interplay with inflow boundary conditions in combustion simulations

Abstract Combustion simulation has become integral to the industrial design of energy and propulsion systems, serving as an efficient computational tool. Due to the complexity of real engines and thermal power devices, combustors are usually modeled solely with proper boundary conditions to describe inflow and outflow behaviors. In this work, we found that near-injector flow perturbations, often arising from peculiar geometric configurations, can interact with the prescribed inflow boundary conditions, leading to great influence on the predicted flame dynamics, thermoacoustic oscillations, and even statistical results of combustion fields. The objective of this study is to elucidate such an interplay between near-injector hydrodynamic perturbation (NIHP) and the prescribed inflow conditions with the consideration of several commonly used inflow boundary conditions. The receptivity of inflow conditions to NIHP is first examined in a one-dimensional Rijke-tube like configuration and then demonstrated in the combustion large-eddy simulation of a realistic combustor configuration (thermoacoustically stable). Our findings reveal that inflow conditions exhibiting similar behaviors without NIHP can differ markedly under its influence. This underscores the necessity for careful selection of inflow boundary conditions in combustion simulations when NIHP is present.

Using Flowcharts and State Diagrams as Tools For Industrial Design of Smart Products

This article investigates the integration of flowcharts and state diagrams into the industrial design process, focusing on their potential to support process planning, clarify product behavior, and enhance communication between designers and engineers. The study begins with an evaluation of storyboards as traditional design tools, followed by an introduction to flowcharts and state diagrams that explains their origins, structural characteristics, and interdisciplinary applications. A proposed method for incorporating these tools into the design process is presented and is supported by a case study involving the development of a smart lighting product. Storyboards, flowcharts, and state diagrams are comparatively evaluated in terms of their effectiveness in process planning and behavior modeling. Time spent and user interactions are measured and analyzed for each tool. The results show that flowcharts are effective in organizing sequential tasks with logical clarity, while state diagrams are more suitable for representing condition-based behaviors and user interaction in smart products. When used together, the tools offer complementary strengths, combining creative exploration with technical precision. This study provides a comprehensive examination of the combined use of flowcharts and state diagrams in industrial design, emphasizing their value not only in planning but also in fostering a shared design language for interdisciplinary collaboration. It also highlights their adaptability in various formats, demonstrating their flexibility across different design environments.

Photorealistic Learned Landscapes for Augmented Reality.

The ability to create photorealistic 3D reconstructions of real-world environments from standard color images has numerous applications in fields such as healthcare, education, and industry. This paper presents a novel system that integrates advanced techniques such as structure from motion, incremental scene registration, and Gaussian Splatting to reconstruct detailed 3D models. These models are seamlessly integrated into virtual reality environments to enable immersive interaction. The pipeline begins with the capture of 360-degree images using a matrix-based pattern for comprehensive coverage. The images are processed using COLMAP to estimate camera poses and generate a sparse point cloud. Gaussian Splatting refines the reconstruction by optimizing the positions, shapes, and appearance of the points to produce highly realistic 3D environments. These models are then rendered in Unity, enabling interaction by VR headsets and supporting additional features such as avatars driven by large language models. One use case demonstrates the versatility of the system. In healthcare, the approach creates controlled, familiar virtual spaces for therapy, particularly beneficial for people with autism spectrum disorders. The immersive environments and interactive avatars provide a safe and comfortable environment for personalized therapy. This system offers significant advantages, including high visual fidelity, ease of image acquisition, and immersive user experiences. However, challenges remain, such as the computational cost of Gaussian Splatting and its reliance on accurate camera pose estimation. By overcoming these limitations, this method has the potential to transform applications in various domains, ranging from therapeutic interventions to industrial design and cultural preservation.

Comparative Analysis of Plasma and Tig Welding on Mild Steel Bars

Plasma and TIG arc welding they are similar welding processes for the base of plasma welding is tig welding. The main purpose of this paper to come to a detailed conclusion based on a comparative analysis of both welding processes. The analysis is done steel bars each applied with the particular welding technique either plasma or tig welding. The principles of each welding procedure are discussed on how they welding is carried out, the mechanics and the technological functions of the welding devices are also discussed. The time required to complete a weld, the amount of current used. Impact on the steel is investigated caused by each welding processes. The welded joints are tested for bending and how much they elongate when under bending stress. The welded joints are done as butt welds for both of the grouped steel bars. These welding processes are used in industries where precision is of great importance like aerospace, design of industrial machinery, ship construction and Petro chemical industries. The concluded results of this paper will be of great contribution to the manufacturing industries because they would be able to know which welding process is best for which particular case or both must be used in order to achieve an ideal outcome. Keywords: Plasma and Tungsten inert gas TIG welding arc, tensile mild Steel bars, bending, butt weld, Amount of current, elongation.