An Engineering Vision Together with a Designer Mind

An engineering training combining the concepts of innovation, eco-design and advanced materials makes it possible to understand the design of a product as a whole, considering its complete life cycle. From the establishment of functional specifications to the end of life, through the customer use, each step is crucial and requires a solid technical background, as well as strong management skills in terms of quality, costs and time, in order to run the project in its entirety. On the other hand, a designer seems to be able to approach his work in a more aesthetic way. Doing researches for inspirations and themes, sticking with some artistic philosophy or not, looking for materials and colours, drawing, or prototyping, it is a matter of making more use of his creative and imaginative spirit as well as his sensitivity; even if constraints of quality, costs and time remain realities in the same way as it is for engineers. Although engineer are increasingly aware of the importance of aesthetics through creative seminars, often inspired by the methodologies established by the renowned design firm IDEO [https://www.ideo.com/], bilateral communication between Science and Beauty always remains complex.

Linking the useful with the pleasant is a relatively interesting step that highlights an obvious connection between Fashion and Functional. As we integrate electronics to textile design, as 3D printing allows the jeweller to make his prototypes, as artificial intelligence helps the decision, and as the virtual reality can create a digital exhibition, the artist and the technician must be able to communicate closely to carry out their joint projects. The enginashion concept tends to define a methodology to create this bridge, by integrating both the aesthetic and functional aspects of a product from the beginning of the project, through tools that are intelligible for everyone. The overall approach is fairly standard as a whole, although simultaneously requiring notions of engineering, design and branding.

After a first introduction to the project with research of inspirations, technical state of the art and brainstorming, it is important to start with a deep step of definition of the studied object as well as its purpose, and to make sure of its clarity with the various protagonists. This gives the project a concept, a mission, a vision and key values. It may also be interesting to precise the target audience to ensure the viability of the project throughout its design. The second step is to integrate the environment in which the object of the study will evolve through simulations of uses, while considering the life cycle of a product. This study makes it possible to establish functions linking the system to its environment. It is then necessary to set up the specifications by assigning to each of these functions quantitative and / or qualitative criteria. It is important to stress that constraints do not hinder creativity; and, on the contrary, they animate it. Although it is precisely stimulated at this stage, it is not yet question to think in terms of solution, although it is obviously encouraged to keep in mind any idea. It is interesting to consider a standard and aesthetic presentation of the specifications in order to promote transversal dialogue. Moreover, once the specifications have been validated by all, the technical and aesthetic solutions that meet its criteria can be "officially" envisaged and tested.

Thus the ENGINASHION spirit celebrates multidisciplinary and transversality by encouraging a team work where the protagonists come from different horizons.