Materials designers and the translational approach: a case from a product design company

Design professionals are inherently translators due to the multi-faceted nature of the design process that often encompasses considerations of technologies, manufacturing, materials, etc. In investigating the emerging practice of 'materials designers', it has been found that they must develop strong 'translational design skills' to address a material-driven design process when collaborations with diverse stakeholders exist. Especially to create new materials and products or to obtain exclusive material features and experiences. Through a real-life case study on developing a circularity-oriented material from waste, this paper articulates translational design practice in materials design, highlighting its relevance in the design process. The study was unfolded through observations and participation in a product design company and by interviewing the design manager within the project. Based on the results, translational design skills in materials design practice are emphasized, and translational design recommendations are proposed for accelerating the successful materials design process in complex collaborations.