Design vs. Engineering
Design and engineering practitioners found selecting a material without a specific application challenging, as applications determine material properties and performance needs. Both groups emphasized the importance of clear benchmarks and reference materials to evaluate new options effectively. Participants highlighted the need to compare bio-based materials with standard materials, such as polypropylene, to establish context for properties like stiffness, ductility, or sustainability metrics (e.g., cradle-to-cradle). They also suggested including comparative examples of materials already used within specific industries or products to demonstrate real-world performance and relevance.
Engineering Perspective: Technical properties and quantifiable data
Engineering practitioners stressed the need for detailed, quantifiable data to assess a material's suitability for a given application. Essential material properties included:
- Mechanical properties (e.g., Young's modulus, ultimate tensile strength (UTS))
- Thermal behavior (e.g., glass transition temperature (Tg), melting temperature (Tm))
- Volumetric changes, lifespan, manufacturing methods, and process compatibility.
Engineering experts also interpret material qualities as how people interact with an object or product. Many had learned about experiential attributes (e.g., perceived warmth or coolness of material) through collaboration with designers. One engineering practitioner noted:
“I really like some non-technical ways of thinking about materials – juxtaposed with how I am always used to thinking about it in terms of numbers.”
Design Perspective: Experiential qualities
Designers emphasized the importance of sensory qualities in material selection. One participant noted that swatches and samples were critical for evaluating tactility and appearance. Others suggested including images or physical examples to illustrate how different processing methods affect the material's final look and feel, as these visual and tactile elements influence application-specific decisions. A design participant emphasized the need for physical engagement, stating:
“I need to see and feel examples of all these materials.”
Integrating material samples or visual aids into the tool was widely supported as a way to bridge the gap between technical properties, experiential qualities, and real-world application. The tool could enhance decision-making and improve usability for designers and engineers by providing tangible references. The approach of combining technical and experiential perspectives must include visual support.