Using a Narrative Framework in an Industrial Design Studio to Create Meaningful Products

The stories or narratives told by utilitarian products are in many cases incidental. These incidental stories may tell tales of manufacturing methods and production materials. Yet if end-users look more closely and consider the object as an ‘artifact’, it is also possible to read the cultural and social value that the object held at its time of manufacture, and assess the level of the importance placed on the specific function of that object. In recognition of this powerful ability to convey a story, many contemporary product designers are increasingly designing products that communicate narratives to end-users: the ‘Product Narrative.’ This ‘Product Narrative’ can be harnessed by product designers to establish an emotionally rich product that forms a connection between the end-user and product. This paper will explore the value of embedding narratives in industrially designed products and the role of the designer in doing so. The authors, from a Sydney-based award winning design firm, will define a ‘Product Narrative’ using a framework they have developed through the course of their practice and research. This framework will be further explored and illustrated with a case study of a 2nd year industrial design studio project run by the authors. The ‘Product Narrative’ framework was used in this studio project to facilitate students during the design process, and to help students design products that established an emotional connection with the end-user. The premise for the design studio, observations made during the course of the studio project and outcomes of the students’ work will be discussed.