Let’s imagine two chairs. One is a visually striking sculpture, with bold angles and exotic materials. The other is a simple chair, with clean lines and no pretensions. The first wins art awards, but sitting in it for more than five minutes is torture. The second is so comfortable you could work in it all day. Which of the two is better designed?
Image created with Google AI Studio.
While aesthetics are important, an object that doesn’t fulfill its primary function has failed in its intended purpose. And it is precisely in this balance that the true goal of Industrial Design lies: creating products that work perfectly, connect with people, and are viable for business.
So, what is the true objective of Industrial Design?
Beyond appearance, the goal of Industrial Design is to integrate functional, productive, aesthetic, and strategic factors to achieve a successful product in the market. It’s not about “drawing something pretty,” but rather acting as a bridge between user needs, industry capabilities, and company objectives.
An industrial designer combines creativity with technical knowledge to balance:
- Functionality above all: The product must solve a real problem, be intuitive, and safe. Concepts such as ergonomics, user experience (UX), and human-centered design are essential to ensure that an object not only fulfills its function, but also enhances it.
- Productive Viability: A design must be able to be manufactured efficiently and cost-effectively. This requires mastery of manufacturing processes, selection of appropriate materials, use of technologies such as 3D printing, and understanding the limitations of mass production.
- Aesthetic and Emotional Appeal: Design also communicates. Shape, color, texture, and interaction build brand identity and generate an emotional bond with the user. Concepts such as branding, aesthetics, and perceived value intersect here.
- Sustainability and Profitability: Increasingly, sustainable design is part of the objective of industrial design. It involves considering the entire product lifecycle: from the selection of eco-friendly materials, energy efficiency in manufacturing, and recyclability to reducing the carbon footprint.
Beyond the object: Balance is the goal
Innovation doesn’t arise from focusing on just one of these areas, but from finding the sweet spot where they all converge. The goal of Industrial Design is to be the catalyst that balances these often contradictory forces.
- How do we create a durable product at a competitive cost?
- How do we make it aesthetically pleasing without complicating its manufacturing?
- How do we satisfy a user’s need in a way that is profitable for the company?
Answering these questions is the daily work of an industrial designer. Good industrial design transforms a simple object into a comprehensive solution that generates value for both the user who buys it and the company that sells it.
How do we achieve that balance at BLASTER?
Just as a chef combines ingredients to create a memorable dish, at BLASTER we combine our passion for design, deep technical knowledge of production processes, and a strategic vision of the Colombian market.
We understand that a product’s success is not a coincidence. It’s the result of a rigorous process focused on meeting each of the industrial design objectives. We don’t just create products that look good, but ones that work, sell, and leave a positive impact.
Discover how a well-focused industrial design can take your product to the next level. Write to us and let’s talk about your project.
