MADE, a prodcut design consultancy with offices in Mexico City and San Antonio, Texas, recently helped coordinate an academic workshop between students in the Industrial Design program at Tecnologico de Monterrey campus QuerÈtaro (Mexico) and IRVING-IKG Industries, a manufacturer of fiberglass industrial products. MADE created the methodology for the workshop and Jorge Moreno ArÛzqueta, the director of the ID program at Tec. de Monterrey QuerÈtaro, worked intensively with 12 students over a three week period developing new product ideas based on the materials that IRVING manufactures.
One line of business for IRVING is urban furniture, and the students' designs explored new market niches for the company. After studying the material properties, the students discovered ample room for application development beyond the current IRVING product line.
The students worked in teams of 4 people and the course ended with a presentation where they showed their projects to managers from IRVING, directors from Tec. de Monterrey, press and guests. Students presented 6 functional prototypes that they built with IRVING's support: a lounge-seat, an individual stool for public areas, a magazine holder, a grass-bench, a modular bench of 5 pieces and a rocking stool.

More info: www.made-id.com

Date Posted: August 25, 2004
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