Optimized development: defining design rules through product optimization techniques

In recent years, parametric optimization has become an important part of product development, allowing the designer to explore an unprecedented number of product configurations. However, optimization is often thought of as the last step of the design process; the product has already been defined and the designer aim is toward the optimization of its performance. At this stage, the main performance trade-offs have been set and cannot be solved by the optimization. We propose an early application of optimization techniques during the product embodiment phase; aimed not at finding the optimal configuration of an existing product, but at highlighting trade-offs and the effect of design variables on the product performance. The output of the proposed procedure is a set of design guidelines that describe the design challenges at an early stage, when there is still time to address trade-offs, and, possibly, resolve them before the final, and more classical, product optimization. The procedure has been tested on two exemplary case studies pertaining to food product refrigeration: a refrigerated display unit and a cabinet shelf.