Defining Industrial Design and 5 Green Designs.

In the "What is 'Industrial Design?'" article, Tucker Veimester examines an industry that is not fully understood: Industrial Design. He chose to follow his father's publication projet that is today the magazine known as 'I.D.' It began in 1943 as a section titled, "Industrial Design," in the magazine called, "Interiors." At this time, it focused on how the new industry would address a post-war America. Then, the section was demo-ed and its' own full publication in 1947 titled, "Industrial Design," was born. Later re-titled to, "I.D. Magazine," the magazine content began to morph when the covered trends began to involve, "more scientific processes and theories." Since the magazine was covering a more international basis, from that point forth, the publication's initials would no longer stand for Industrial Design. It would be more suitable as International Design (I.D.) Magazine. What originally had began as a section devoted specifically to the industry now had been turned into a broader base of several industries, thus, blurring the boundaries of what Industrial Design is. Here to set the record straight on what Industrial (Product) Design is, the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA).

"Industrial Design(ID) is the professional service of creating and developing concepts and specifications that optimize the function, value and appearance of products and systems for the mutual benefit of both user and manufacturer. Industrial designers develop these concepts and specifications through collection, analysis and synthesis of data guided by the special requirements of the client or manufacturer. They are trained to prepare clear and concise recommendations through drawings, models and verbal descriptions."

In a field that began in the plastic-less, electronic-less year of 1938, Industrial (Product) Design has grown to have 27 local chapters throughout the United States. Today, this field is facing the same problems other design industries are facing with the, "go green," initiative: coming up with innovative ways to solve a problem while still remaining earth-friendly. Below are five product designs that are some of the most innovative ways to sustain-ably solve problems at-hand.

-Enjoy!

Log Bowls.
Designer: Doha Chebib for Loyal Loot Collective

"Each bowl is handmade using only locally reclaimed trees of all varieties (fallen or cut down due to infrastructure, re-landscaping, droughts, or stormy weather). The trees are hand selected, gathered, turned and finished by Loyal Loot Collective and local crafts people."



Hughie Sink.
Designer: Hughie Products Pty Ltd

"Capturing water which would normally go down the drain, when washing hands, cleaning the veges, or even the warm up water in the shower. Submerge in the bath and this water can also be reused to water the garden."



Green Pockets.
Designer: Maruja Fuentes

"Green pockets are ceramic tiles which fuse nature with the interior space improving both air quality and health...The tiles, made from recycled materials, serve as planters and their unique shape allows them to interlock, thereby creating different patterns depending on the vegetation planted."



The Green PC.
Designer: Design Hara

"Depending on customer preference, the side wood panels are selectable between cypress wood from Italy and Canadian rose wood. The front natural sheep leather (lamb) cover is optional as well."



Sparks Exterior Lighting.
Designer: Daniel Becker

"The lighting elements are based on low-energy led modules, all pieces are connected by simple screw-type joints which don't need any technical expertise."