Making It: Manufacturing Techniques for Product Design

This book presents industrial mass-production techniques useable by industrial designers. Research leading to my previous books that explored materials and cross-referencing for different design disciplines provided me with a sound platform, rooted in the materials aspect of a product’s production, from which my research could evolve. This book is the outcome of a natural extension to my earlier work, here synthesising the material aspect of design with industrial production revealing their relationship as seamlessly entwined.

The manufactured object is a well-documented subject, however, there is a lack of cohesive, comprehensive treatment of the subject that directly addresses the needs of the working methods of industrial designers. The unique aspect of this book is the distillation and selection of relevant information, combined with an accessible graphic format.

The key focal point of the research was exploring the issue of how, by using a range of types of communication, such as product images, illustrations and on-site photographs, it was possible to communicate the story of a particular production method in a way that was informal but which addressed the intricate relationship between process, material and designed object. How to convey production informatively is traditionally a very uninspiring subject. The information presented in the text was devised to convey key elements of the production process and discuss them with relevance to design. Guides are also provided which allow for cross-referencing of aspects of production. To achieve the outcome required controlled, intensive collaboration with photographer, illustrator and graphic designer to realise my objectives.

Chris Lefteri

Research Interests

Materials in the context of contemporary design, authored books, design and architecture

Current Research

The aim of the research is to enhance knowledge and understanding of a range of materials within the context of contemporary design. Initially this has taken the form of four books which discuss the use of specific materials within design and architecture. To pursue a range of projects that explore new ways that materials can be catagorised, documented and made available to the Design Community.