AVS. Arkitektúr verktækni skipulag - 01.12.2003, Side 29
Design Engineering:
A Logical Approach
Agnar Jón Guðnason, Design Engineer.
Design engineering is a young, rapid-
ly-changing disciplíne. The field can
be described briefly as a problem-
solving approach for production, and
production technology, taken
from a technological view. It firstly
requires a logical approach to
analyse problems, test possible solu-
tions and then select the best solu-
tion. The definition of the problem
and a subsequent solution depends
on the available tools best suited for
the task at hand.
Today, various fields utilise design
engineers. They can be found in the
automobile, computer, and furniture
industries; the production of electrical
appliances, and patent offices and
design studios, to name a few. The
core of design engineering is the
fact that the key to prosperity lies in
knowing the entire lifecycle of a
product, from an idea and design to
production, marketing and its envi-
Barnastóll fyrír reiðhjól, verkefni sem var hluti af
áfanganum „Designkunskap" grunnáfangi í hön-
nunar-tæknifræði unnið með og kynnt undirstaða
iðn- hönnunar og vöruþróunar. /
A safety chair for babies. One project carried out
in the course „Designkunskap," a basic course
in design engineering, where design and prod-
uct development are introduced.
ronmental impact. This comprehen-
sive view is called Integrated Product
Development.
Swedish production companies have
recognised the need for individuals
with specialised knowledge in this
field. In 1994, the University in
Skövde (HIS) was the first in Sweden
to offer education in this field. The
course received the name
Designingenjörsprogrammet,
or design engineering. Later on,
other universities started to offer sim-
iiar degrees; the Universities in
Karlstad, Borás, Umeá, Linköping
and now also the Kungliga Tekniska
högskolan, (KTH) and Chalmers.
HÖGSKOLAN
SKÖVDE
IFOELECTRIC
Education in the fieid of design and
engineering is popular at the
moment. Schools, such as the
University in Skövde, where I studied
from 1997 to 2000, can choose from
a number of applicants and make
high demands on their qualifications.
The education is engineering-based.
Material science, static and dynamic
mechanics, mechatronic, and
automation form the basis for all
design projects assigned during
the program. Computers are used as
instruments to facilitate decision
making, speed the design process
and distribute information.
Computer-aided product develop-
ment is elementary to this study. As
an example, a 3D model is created in
a CAD (Computer Aided Drawing).
This modei is then transferred to
software in which the product is
prepared for CAM (Computer Aided
Manufacturing). The making of proto-
types in a computer-controlled
machine is also taught by using CNC
(Computerised Numerical Control
Machine), or with 3D printers for pro-
totypes, FFM (Free Form Machine). It
is important for those who work with
ideas to be able to convey them to
others, quickly and easily. Pencil
drawings, rendering and computer
Lokaverkefni í hönnunartæknifræði frá
Háskólanum í Skövde unnið i samvinnu við Ifö
Electric, kynnt á „Stockholm Furniture Fair“ 2001
sem dæmi um vel heppnaða samvinnu milli
háskóla og atvinnulífs. Unnið af Agnari Jóni
Guðnasyni og Hans-Jörgen Lindquist. t A final
thesis in Design Engineering at the University of
Skövde. Done in a co-operation with Ifö Electric,
and presented at the Stockholm Furniture Fair
2001 as an example of successful teamwork
between a university and a company. Carríed out
by Agnar Jón Guðnason and Hans-Jörgen
Lindquist.
QVS 27