The first recorded use of the term “industrial design” is attributed to Joseph Claude Sinel, a self-proclaimed “industrial designer.”
However, Christopher Dresser is generally regarded as the first independent industrial designer because he was the first to publish a practical design book for industrial design in 1853. Overall, we can state that the industrial profession was born between 1850 and 1900.
Industrial design is a design process
A design process where design is separated from manufacturing, this is the first principle of industrial design.
The initial phase in the design process was sketching. This technique was a quick and easy way to find solutions to a problem or to study new ideas. These sketches were later used to expertly communicate forms and design processes on paper.
Once the sketch was approved, phase 2 began: drafting technical blueprints. Previously, orthographic representation was done with pencil and paper.
With the technical blueprint ready, it was time to create a prototype of models that had to look as precise as the final product, marking phase 3 in the design process.
Later, when mass production facilities began inventing plastic products, it was up to designers to master new technologies such as blow molding, rotational molding, and injection molding.
Industrial design was born.
Today, our engineering still relies on the knowledge of Joseph Claude Sinel and Christopher Dresser. However, computers have replaced the pencil and paper.
