Industrial Design supports the customers or ultimate user perspective with the artistic, aesthetic and styling including user interface – human factors aspects of product styling development, based on technical concepts, products and processes. Product styling characteristics specified by the Industrial Designer may include the overall shape of the object, the location of details with respect to one another, materials, manufacturing & tooling processes, color, texture, sounds, concentrating on the human factors, ergonomics, and user - product interface leading to the way the product is presented packaged and merchandized to the consumer.  Classic industrial designs are considered as much works of art as works of engineering: the, Coca-Cola contour bottle, Volkswagen (VW) Beetle and the iPod are examples.

       Semantics is form follows function but is also human factors and user interface orientated.  Be it logical tool, symbols, metaphors, logos or natural elements, the driving forces behind what is the most appropriate 3D form for my product needs to consider many factors. Decoration is only for function while the universal languages and cultural influences along with the intended user drives the 3D design.  Understanding the opportunities or art and styling and the limits and possibilities of materials manufacturing, with necessity of function along with manufacturability are the forces which drive 3D development. Our mass market calls for new shapes and forms to attract attention and interest but this must be married with a working knowledge of the industrial design process, manufacturing and market demands.

      The soul of the machine is the human interface and how efficiently, effectively and comfortably the design addresses and resolves it's intended task. The human factors of styling or making a product pleasing to the eye and semantically logical in its design are the key factors to successful industrial product. The Industrial Designer will take the design intent information and consider it from many user perspectives to be sure the design prioritizes and accomplishes the task and start to define the best and most appropriate user interface layout considering the mechanical aspects of the design. Form - follows function is still alive and well but it is now driven by the emotion and natural attraction to small, soft, free flowing, organic shapes. Developing a successful product in the 3D design process takes market knowledge, user insight and mastering manufacturing to increase your chances of design success.