Materials

& Design
Materials and Design 29 (2008) 133–145
www.elsevier.com/locate/matdes

Product designers’ information needs in materials selection

I.E.H. van Kesteren *

Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Landbergstraat 15, 2628 CE Delft, The Netherlands

Received 24 July 2006; accepted 13 November 2006

Available online 4 January 2007

Abstract

For an efficient materials selecting process, the content and presentation of information about materials should be accustomed to
product designers’ approaches and needs. This paper aims at determining these approaches and needs by a series of interviews with prod-
uct designers. Four needs were found: the need for comparable information, information related to product issues, information on multi-
ple detail levels and material samples. Four empirical studies elaborated on these needs to evaluate how currently used information
sources deal with them. Strategies coming from these studies help to focus information developers in their efforts to present suitable
information about materials to product designers.
Ó 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Materials selection; Material properties databases; Product design

1. Introduction Product designers use various ways to access informa-

One of the activities in product design engineering is
selecting materials. van Kesteren et al. argue that selecting
materials can be considered as a problem solving activity
[1]. Problem solving demands a large and constant flow of
information [2]. This is especially the case for materials
selection for new commercial products. With some excep-
tions, for these products, materials are selected from an
existing range of materials offered [3,4]. This leaves plenty
of choice however; there are plenty of suppliers with
many different materials available. To select from existing
materials, information is needed about these materials;
what are their properties and performances? What is their
price? More importantly, do these materials provide what
designers are looking for, both on technical and aesthetic
aspects? With appropriate information, product designers
can compare materials candidates with the product’s
requirements.
*
Tel.: +31 15 2785730; fax: +31 15 2781839.
E-mail address: I.E.H.vanKesteren@TUDelft.nl
tion and use different information sources to acquaint
themselves with the material characteristics of candidate
materials [1,2,5–7]. Product designers can fully apply the
extensive possibilities of current and new materials in
their designs if these sources suit their information needs
[3,4,7].
The aim of the studies presented in this paper was to
empirically explore the information needs of product
designers and to present these needs in a comprehensive
way for developers of information about materials (Table
1). In order to do so, an overview was provided on the
information sources product designers currently use and
what they need from these information sources (Section
3). Based on this overview four themes that represent
product designers’ information approaches and needs
were formulated: (1) the need for comparable informa-
tion, (2) information related to product issues, (3) infor-
mation on multiple detail levels and (4) material samples.
For each of these themes a study was performed to eval-
uate the usability of different existing information sources
that deal with these needs and to learn from their advan-
tages (Sections 4–7). The final results of the paper consist

0261-3069/$ - see front matter Ó 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.matdes.2006.11.008
134 I.E.H. van Kesteren / Materials and Design 29 (2008) 133–145
Table 1
Structure of studies presented in the paper
Paper structure
Main question:
Which characteristics should information about materials have to meet the needs of product designers?
Literature and expectations
First study: Currently used information sources: What is on offer and what is used? What are product designers’ information needs?
Studies aiming at assessing usability of different information sources that deal with the needs:
 Second study: Comparing materials in databases
 Third study: Presenting information about materials in multiple detail levels
 Fourth study: Material samples offering applied information
 Fifth study: Using sample collections
Final results:
Information strategies for providing information about materials
of strategies for providing and developing information
about materials for product designers (Section 8).
2. Materials selection approaches in product design
Ashby and Johnson state that industrial designers express frustration
that they are not supported while selecting materials based on character-
istics other than technical ones [6]. Only recently, the ASM International
acknowledged that industrial designers are a new audience for the materi-
als information society. They recognize that designers have special infor-
mation needs regarding tactile and aesthetic values of materials [8].
However, is finding information about non-technical information about
materials the only aspect product designers are dealing with? Expected
is that product designers’ information needs on materials are also depen-
dent on the methods they use for selecting and the design aspects they
consider.
2.1. Methods for selecting
Selecting materials is more than matching requirements with materials
candidates. Dobrzanski explains that after defining the requirements for a
new product, these requirements are compared with extensive materials
databases to preliminary select a number of materials that might be appli-
cable [9]. These materials, acquired from a retail network, are then
inspected in the particular product [9].
Ashby and Johnson identify four methods for selecting materials all
using different strategies and all having their own information needs.
These are the analysis, synthesis, similarity and inspiration method [6].
These methods can be used separately, but ‘the most effective path exploits
the most useful features of each’ [6]. In the analysis method a list of prod-
uct requirements is translated into material objectives and constraints and
then a database of materials is screened. This method requires information
about characteristics of available materials. In the synthesis method, prod-
uct requirements are translated into desired features and then a database
of products is explored. The method exploits the knowledge of other
solved problems. The method requires information about previous mate-
rials solutions. If product requirements are not a starting point for select-
ing, the similarity method can be used. For an established material an
attribute profile is generated that is used to find materials solutions closely
related to the established one. Like the analysis method, information is
needed about characteristics of available materials. Creative thinking pro-
vokes the last method, inspiration. A database with materials is combined
with a database of products and new matches are generated almost by a
random walk. Although Ashby and Johnson mention databases in every
method it seems better to speak of ‘collections of data’ or ‘information’.
Not all information is as structured and easy to retrieve as the term data-
base suggests.
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
Section 6
Section 7
Section 8
2.2. Aspects considered in materials selection
Information needs do not only depend on the method of selecting, but
also on the roles materials have in a product. They have the role of making
products technically function and the role of creating aesthetic character-
istics (or ‘product personality’ as referred to by Ashby and Johnson [6]).
Product designers therefore consider various aspects of products resulting
in a choice of materials that provides in these roles. These aspects include
product function, the life cycle of the product and who is going to use or
produce it. In addition, usability, product personality, environment, costs
and so on are included. Materials influence these aspects in multiple, com-
plex and not always quantitative way. Shercliff and Lovatt developed an
approach for process selection that deals with the complexity of consider-
ing materials, design and manufacturing processes [10]. van Kesteren et al.
show the relations between materials considerations and the other design
considerations: product personality, use, function, shape and manufactur-
ing [11]. Ljungberg stresses that production methods, function, user
demands, design, total price and environmental aspects are important cri-
teria in the selection of a material [12].
The influence of materials on use and personality is not always quan-
tifiable. Providing information about these aspects is therefore difficult.
The number of design aspects that materials influence has consequences
for product designers’ information needs on materials. The information
should provide insights in how materials influence the different aspects.
2.3. Non-technical properties
Karana explored the kind of data product designers need other than
technical data and their sources [7]. She concluded that product designers
need information about sensorial properties and on perceived values,
which are affected by factors such as cultural aspects, trends, associations
and emotions in addition, to the technical information. For many techni-
cal aspects, information about materials is available and well organized in
databases and datasheets. For example, in CAMPUS software mechani-
cal, thermal and electrical properties of materials are provided [13].
However, only a limited number of examples can be found for the non-
technical aspects of materials such as aesthetics and personality. For
sensorial properties, especially information about colour and other visual
aspects such as transparency and gloss can be found extensively, but the
other senses such as touch are still underexposed as well as information
about perceived values. For information about visual and tactual aspects
of materials product designers rely on psychical material samples.
Above described three aspects are expected to influence the way prod-
uct designers use information about materials. The first aspect was the
selection methods of product designers. Product designers use various
selection methods that differ from project to project and differ from design
phase to design phase. Every method requires its specific information. The
second aspect introduced was that product designers consider a wide vari-
 I.E.H. van Kesteren / Materials and Design 29 (2008) 133–145
ety of product issues while selecting materials, which increases the com-
plexity of materials selection. Information is needed that combines differ-
ent aspects. The third aspect concerned the different roles that materials
have in a product; that of creating product functionality and product per-
sonality. Creating a personality requires information about non-technical
materials aspects.
3. First study: Currently used information about materials
A list of currently used information sources was made to
assess whether the aspects as described in the previous sec-
tion influence which information sources are used by prod-
uct designers. This section ends with four themes that
represent the characteristics that product designers need
in information about materials.
3.1. Method
A series of interviews with product designers lead to a
list of currently used information sources. The information
related topics discussed in the interviews were: What infor-
mation sources are used during materials selection? How
satisfying and useful is the information provided about
materials and how is the information found? At the end
of the interviews, the researcher discussed how the intervie-
wees keep up with new developments in the material and
process technologies areas. The information sources men-
tioned in an interview were discussed in the next interview
to verify whether the next interviewee also used this source.
Therefore, it was possible to make a complete list of mostly
used sources. However, appointing a frequency of use was
not possible. Thirteen product designers from design agen-
cies, production companies and engineering agencies were
interviewed. Their design experience ranged from 1 to 13
years with a mean of 5 years of experience.
3.2. Results
The interviewees mentioned dozens of information
sources they used for selecting materials, which are cate-
gorized in the different source types shown in Table 2.
The categorization into types was based on the source
the information was coming from, e.g. from example
products or from Internet. An important distinction was
made between information about materials applied in a
product and information about characteristics of raw
materials or half fabricates. Roughly said, the information
in the ‘general materials application’ category is gained by
assessing materials in existing products or models. In the
second and third category information is gained by stan-
dardized materials tests and experiments. Information
about materials characteristics is coming from indepen-
dent sources, such as found in handbooks (independent
sources category) or is about available materials such as
from suppliers (materials on supply category). Table 2
shows examples of the found information sources and
summarizes the results.
135
3.2.1. General materials application
Instead of starting with all options, such is the case when
using a database with materials, the interviewees start their
materials selection with a small number that is selected
based on experience. With this small selection they contact
materials suppliers and manufacturers.
The interviewees stressed that although materials are
tested for their properties, how materials will react when
processed into a designed shape is hard to predict. The
same holds for the circumstances a product is put in during
its life cycle. However, for guaranteeing the reliability and
durability of the product, product designers need to predict
the materials behaviour in their design. Therefore, product
designers use information about applied materials from
different sources, such as company experience, testing and
example products.
3.2.2. Independent sources
General information about materials is mostly used by
the interviewees with the least design experience. These
sources are helpful in situations where designers need to
understand which materials are suitable. As soon as this
is known, designers switch over to information that
includes the availability of materials. Product designers
use general information beyond the concrete question in
a project, for example for education or for inspiring current
and future projects.
3.2.3. Materials on supply
As stated in Section 1, materials are mostly selected
from an existing range of materials from suppliers. During
the interviews this was confirmed. The interviewees all
mentioned materials suppliers and manufacturers as infor-
mation sources. When contacting these sources the inter-
viewees know to an extent what kind of materials they
are looking for. They selected the suppliers or manufactur-
ers to contact.
Materials suppliers and representatives of manufactur-
ers are the obvious persons to contact if information is
required on available materials. These persons however
are related to businesses that provide information for their
own commercial interests. In some cases, the interviewees
found this a drawback because the suppliers were not able
to advice on other materials than their own. However, in
other cases product designers and suppliers or manufactur-
ers combined their interests and developed parts together.
In summary, there exist many types of information
sources related to materials that are used by product
designers. In every design project, several of these sources
were used. The sources reflect on what is important in
information about materials, namely information about
availability, on application in products and for inspiration.
3.3. Discussions
In Section 2 we ended with the expected information
needs of product designers. The results of the interviews

Table 2
Information sources used in materials selection
Category Source types
1. General material Experience: Knowledge of the client, colleagues and experts, experience from former
applications projects
Testing: Knowledge institutions (e.g. Universities), finite elements calculations,
experimenting for choosing materials, testing for verifying choice
Example products: Inspiration from shopping, competition products, proven technology,
tradeshows (e.g. Milan international furniture show [23]), magazines on design topics (e.g.
i-D Magazine [24])
2. Independent Databases, search engines: In-company databases, general available databases (e.g.
sources CAMPUS Plastics [13]), commercial databases (e.g. IDEMAT, CES [15]), search engines
(e.g. Google), trade guides (e.g. yellow pages)
Sample collections: Samples from former projects (e.g. Tech Box [20]), commercial sample
collections (e.g. Material ConneXion [18], Materia [19])
Books, exhibitions: Books for inspiration (e.g. Lefteri series [25]), Exhibitions (e.g.
Materials Skills [26]), seminars organized by material federations
136
Results from interviews
The product designers’ experiences are a valuable and important starting point for
making a set of candidate materials. The product designers mostly gain experience
through former projects and from seminars and trade shows. If the product
designers do not have experience with the design problem they are facing, they talk
I.E.H. van Kesteren / Materials and Design 29 (2008) 133–145
to colleague-designers (senior product designers) or material specialists in the
company. In addition, experience of the client (for example a production company)
is valuable. Product designers of design agencies have close contact to the
engineering department of their client
Materials suppliers test their materials to provide information about performances
such as chemical resistance, durability, and yield strength. Product designers,
together with manufacturers, test selected materials in the product or in product
parts to verify whether the materials act as expected when processed and shaped in
the specific geometry. Testing is done with physical prototypes or with simulations,
for example with finite elements calculations. Through experimenting, product
designers discover the possibilities of materials, resulting in new ways of using
materials in products
Example products are very important in material selection; the designer translates
the applications to the design problem he is facing. The example products are of a
similar type of the product that needs to be designed, or have exiting features that
interested the product designers. In design related tradeshows and magazines
products are assessed for their materials use
Young product designers remembered that they used general material selection
software during their education, but in the 13 companies visited in this study, this
kind of software was not available. However, some companies maintain an in-
company database. Other sources that assist in selecting materials suppliers and
manufacturers are the Yellow Pages or general search engines on the Internet like
Google. Mostly product designers use these information sources during the early
phases and the embodiment phases of the design project
Tangible information sources used by the interviewees are different sorts of
collections available in the companies. Different types of collections are those of
brochures, of products and product parts and of material samples. Product
designers use collections to store and recall former design projects, interesting parts
‘from the street’ or from tradeshows. Samples provide information about sensorial
aspects of materials such as visual and tactile features. Commercial sample
collections were not used
Product designers use material books and lecture notes from the product designers’
education to gain general information about which materials are suitable for the
design problems they are facing. Exhibitions and seminars are not available on the
specific time needed in the project. Product designers use them to build experience
 I.E.H. van Kesteren / Materials and Design 29 (2008) 133–145 137

show that these information needs are reflected in the

Design agencies and their clients often have a selection of suppliers they work with.

for tips and tricks. In the late phases product designers discuss which materials suit

Furthermore, they discuss what consequences the materials choices have on other

The interviewees regularly use online databases of materials suppliers. In addition

to the information found on the internet pages of a supplier, datasheets with more
detailed information are requested, as well as custom made material samples and

to keep up with new developments and to show the company’s developments when
advertisement on their new developments. Sometimes they visit design agencies to
aspects of the design such as on shape. The interviewees consulted manufacturers,

Product designers visit materials tradeshows to meet suppliers and manufacturers,

attending the tradeshow as an exhibitor. From magazines product designers gather

Experts from suppliers and manufacturers are consulted during the whole project

the requirements best, which additives are needed and which colours and effects. sources product designers use. The different information
types that product designers use for achieving materials

Materials suppliers and manufacturers send brochures and newsletters as

characteristics show that they use different selection meth-
ods. The analysis and similarity methods require informa-
tion about available material characteristics. Product

show and explain the possibilities with their material portfolio

designers find this information with materials suppliers
and manufacturers. They use these methods to assess their
materials. However, only in late design phases a clear def-
inition of materials requirement is available. Product
designers only use these methods in the late design phases.
for the processing characteristics of materials

The synthesis method requires information about product

features. Finding a ‘general materials application’ category
confirms that product designers use this method. Product
designers use ‘independent sources’ as well as ‘general
information for future projects

materials application’ sources for the inspiration method.

Examples are material samples, tradeshows, books and
example products.
master batch samples

The aspect related to the product issues that product

designers consider in selecting materials comes forward in
the materials source category ‘general materials applica-
tion’. In this category product designers search for infor-
mation that exceeds the materials characteristics and
includes aspects such as manufacturing, life cycle, aesthet-
ics and other product related aspects.
Tradeshows, magazines: Presentation of materials suppliers on e.g. plastic fairs, magazines

The aspect related to the role of materials to create

product functionality and product personality was partly
In person: Customer advisor of material supplier or manufacturer, company visits

Samples, brochures: Send on request or as advertisements (e.g. a sample box [27],

found in the ‘general materials application’ sources and

‘material samples’ source. Product designers can assess sen-
sorial characteristics of materials in samples. Although
product designers are often limited to their own judgment,
they considered material samples as a very important infor-
Internet: Internet information of supplier, databases, datasheets

mation source in this respect. From their experiences they

know what personality a material will give a product.
The interviewees mentioned other selection process
aspects than mentioned in Section 2. Herein was mentioned
that information about materials is required for comparing
required material characteristics to materials properties or
required product features to materials solutions. The inter-
viewees experienced however more difficulties with
comparing materials to each other. Furthermore, they
experienced difficulties with the detail of information that
is needed to use different information sources. In a design
e.g. Materialstoday [28]

project the problem often evolves along with its solution.

As a consequence, in early design phases the exact values
for materials characteristics are not present. However,
these are often required to search for materials candidates.
newsletters)

In the following these difficulties are translated into infor-

mation needs.

3.4. Themes representing the information needs of product

designers
3. Materials on

Four themes were formed in this study that explain the

information needs of product designers. These are ‘com-
supply

pare’, ‘multiple detail levels’, ‘product related aspects’

and ‘material samples’. The four themes are presented in
138 I.E.H. van Kesteren / Materials and Design 29 (2008) 133–145
Fig. 1. Product designers’ needs concerning information about materials.
Fig. 1. The first two themes are related to the process of
designing. The other two themes are related to the content
of the information.
3.4.1. Compare
Product designers compare a list of material objectives
and constraints to a database of materials or products.
To do this, the database needs to contain information that
can be compared to the objectives. In addition, often more
than one idea, concept or principle can be found as solu-
tion for a design problem. Therefore, product designers
compare their solutions. For comparing materials compa-
rable information is needed. Theme 1 represents the need
to compare.
3.4.2. Multiple detail levels
The information of single materials in a database needs
to provide the information in terms of the formulated
objectives and constraints. However, in different design
phases, product designers formulate these in different jar-
gon and details. For example, in early phases they use gen-
eral and qualitative search parameters like a stiff and
transparent plastic. Later they use more specific and quan-
titative search parameters like a stiffness number and a
transparency number. Beiter et al. defined these different
search parameters as ‘soft constraints’ and ‘hard con-
straints’ [3]. Thus, information about materials should be
presented in a way that suits the information needs in dif-
ferent phases of the design process. This can be done by
presenting the information on different levels of detail.
Theme 2 therefore is termed: ‘multiple detail levels’.
3.4.3. Product related aspects
A problem that many interviewees encountered is the
lack of product related information. For example, informa-
tion about how materials perform during the lifetime of the
product or how selected materials affect shape and use is
difficult to obtain. Theme 3 represents the need for infor-
mation about product issues and is termed ‘product related
aspects’.
3.4.4. Material samples
Product designers use material samples for inspiration
and communication, especially on non-technical parame-
ters such as sensorial and personality aspects. Therefore,
theme 4 is termed: ‘material samples’.
The themes provide an indication of what is needed in
materials selection. We based them on empirical findings.
Literature sources that discuss materials selection issues
bring these themes forward as well. For example, Ashby
et al. recommend that selection tools should ‘‘accommo-
date a range of databases appropriate to the various stages
of the design’’ [14] (multiple detail levels theme). Martini-
Vvedensky mentions that product designers compare data
taken from different sources [4] (compare theme). Many
sources mention the relation between materials and manu-
facturing aspects (e.g. [3–6,9–11,14]). However, other prod-
uct related aspects are not mentioned extensively. In
addition, only a few sources mention that product design-
ers need material samples to find information about senso-
rial aspects [6]. Literature sources in which developments of
information on materials is presented mainly focus on
computerized materials databases (e.g. [3,4]).
The following four sections explore the themes for deter-
mining strategies that may focus improvements on cur-
rently used information sources. Every section presents
an empirical study that evaluates the needs in currently
available information sources. The sections start with
explaining the theme, the aim and methods of the presented
study and the results. The sections end with the strategies
for the development of information that stems from the
results.
4. Second study: Comparing materials in databases
Product designers compare different materials to find
optimal material candidates for their products. For com-
paring they need information about several materials and
they need this information to be presented in similar for-
mats for these materials. In general databases and in dat-
abases from a single company, materials are presented in
a similar format. However, comparing materials from dif-
ferent companies is more complicated. Methods for mea-
suring materials parameters differed from company to
company. As a consequence, other test results are pre-
sented. Furthermore, the materials suppliers have different
strategies for presenting the results of standard material
tests. An interviewee of study 1 explained that some sup-
pliers show their best test results. As a result, their mate-
rials come forward in comparisons. Showing the best
results however has drawbacks. If the materials perform
slightly less good as the best test results predict, they
may cause reliability problems. Other companies are
therefore more moderate and show mean test results. A
concrete example mentioned in the first study was the
influence of shrinkage of materials on the mould geome-
try. If shrinkage is more than expected new moulds needs
to be processed. Due to the different test results that are
presented by the materials suppliers, product designers
have difficulties with interpreting comparisons of materi-
als. As a consequence, product designers have frequent
contact with different suppliers, which may be cost con-
suming for both parties.
 I.E.H. van Kesteren / Materials and Design 29 (2008) 133–145
In the following, two databases containing materials data
were evaluated: CES 4.0 from Granta Design [15] and Mat-
web from Automation Creations Inc. [16]. Both databases
are independent of materials industry but contain datasheets
from a large amount of materials. The main differences
between the two databases are the complexity of the interface
and representation of material data. Matweb has a simple
interface with a small number of possibilities: by filling in a
maximum of three materials properties the database can be
searched. CES is more extended: searching materials by fill-
ing in material properties is possible as well as browsing
materials in a tree-structure. Furthermore, in CES material
data can be combined with process data. In Matweb materi-
als are represented by trade name and data is presented for
material properties. In CES materials are represented by
their sort name. CES presents data for materials properties
but, do also include manufacturing process properties, a pic-
ture and an estimated price. In CES one can work on differ-
ent levels of detail (termed in CES as edu-levels).
4.1. Method
To compare the usability of both databases, six partici-
pants with a design background evaluated them. Each par-
ticipant used both databases for selecting materials for the
housing of an electrical boiling kettle in random order.
They were provided with product requirements for the
housing and had 30 min per database to find a suitable
material. After that they filled in a questionnaire to evalu-
ate the usability of the databases. They were not familiar
with the evaluated database interfaces.
4.2. Results
With CES the participants needed more clues to use the
program than with Matweb. This is a likely result from the
fact that the participants used the programs for the first
time. The number of questions that participants had about
the working of the program decreased after a period of
time. The participants evaluated CES as more pleasant to
work with compared to Matweb. The participants stated
that the trade names used in Matweb were confusing in
early design phases and that in Matweb no example prod-
uct was shown in the materials data sheet. Although in
CES a picture is shown the participants prefer more pic-
tures. In addition, CES was preferred because of its possi-
bility to combine materials data with process data. CES is
in that sense more related to product issues than Matweb.
The participants preferred CES for the idea and concept
phases and Matweb for embodiment and detailed design
phases. So, the participants preferred to use the databases
in different design phases.
4.3. Strategies
Both evaluated databases fulfil the need to compare
materials information. Concerning the need to access infor-
139
mation on multiple detail levels, CES can be used on two
detail levels and thus provides in this need. However, prod-
uct designers prefer Matweb in the last phases of their pro-
ject and CES for the early phases. CES does thus not cover
the whole design project. In addition to the studied version
of CES, Matweb provides data on trade names and suppli-
ers, which helps to specify materials. In later versions of
CES this data is also provided. A strategy for providing
information on multiple detail levels would be to include
data on general materials. In addition, the information
needs to include data on trade names and suppliers to sup-
port product designers in their late design phases. It is
advised to enable access via multiple strategies such as in
CES to support early design phases.
Matweb solely provides information about material
properties whereas CES provides process data as well.
CES therefore seems to fulfil the need of relating materials
data to product issues, although this is limited to process
data. A strategy for providing information about product
issues may be to extend the possibilities of CES to other
areas such as shape issues and product personality issues.
5. Third study: Presenting information about materials on
multiple detail levels
Product designers select materials in different phases in
the design process. In the idea generating phase books with
pictures of materials can be very inspiring, but these are
unsuitable for later phases if more detail is required. In
the concept phase, product designers want to specify most
of the materials, but not all information is present to formu-
late requirements as detailed as is needed to use datasheets
or databases. For example, early in the design phases,
designers decide about materials based on just a few param-
eters such as costs and chemical resistance. In the last design
phases product designers mostly contact material suppliers
and manufacturers to discuss the materials aspects in full
detail. In the following is studied how a presentation form
can deal with the need for multiple detail levels.
5.1. Method
The aim of the study was to explore in which form prod-
uct designers prefer materials data to be presented so this
data can be used during most design phases. First was stud-
ied which kind of materials data is provided by several
commonly used information sources (brochures, supplier
information on internet, databases) and how this data is
presented. For example, are the materials properties given
in exact numbers, ranges or textual? Objects of the study
were the brochures and websites of four materials suppli-
ers, the online database www.materialexplorer.com [17]
and the software tool Cambridge Engineering Selector
[15]. In study 2 was found that CES do presents informa-
tion on two levels, but is preferred only for the idea and
concept phases and not for the detailed phases. Therefore,
CES was included again in this study.
140 I.E.H. van Kesteren / Materials and Design 29 (2008) 133–145

Table 3 data was not clear from the results. Experts and students
Preferences in representations of information about materials had different preferences. However, a combination of
Product designers’ preferences tables and graphics for comparing is preferred by both
Experts (# = 4) Students (# = 16) experts and students.
Material properties The proposal for presenting information about materi-
1st Mechanical Mechanical als consists of an interface using three ways to start collect-
2nd Generala General ing material data. The first one is a search engine in which a
3rd Sensorial Sensorial material name can be entered. The second one is a search
4th Process Optical
5th Other Thermal
function in which the database can be searched based on
6th Optical Process materials characteristics such as mechanical and sensorial
7th Thermal Electrical parameters. This search function works on two levels so
8th Electrical Other that product designers can use the search function in differ-
Obtaining data ent phases in the design process. At level one, characteris-
1st Search engine Limit phase tics are presented roughly in words such as high, average or
2nd Limit phase Tree structure low. At level two, characteristics are presented by numbers
3rd Graphics Search engine
for every property. The third starting point enables to com-
4th Tree structure Graphics
pare materials. Product designers can compare the data in
Comparing method tables, but also by graphical comparisons. The material
1st Bubble-charts Tables
data sheet itself is presented by a short textual introduction
2nd Tables Bubble-charts
3rd Text Normal graphics of the material and a picture. The user of the database can
4th Normal graphics Text choose to display characteristics in rough numbers or in
5th Box plots Box plots specific numbers. An important advice is to add an option
a
General material properties include the density and the price of the for exact values for different types of materials to meet the
materials. demands of experienced product designers. They need to
use these values in their detailed design phases.
The proposed presentation form may be used in differ-
Second, for each of the types was explored what presen- ent design phases due to the differences in representation
tation form product designers prefer by interviewing 4 of materials characteristics (roughly, specifically and in
product designers and 16 design students.1 The results led exact numbers). Elements of the proposed presentation
to a proposal that presents materials data in multiple detail form do come forward in the evaluated existing informa-
levels. tion sources. However, the proposal combined the pre-
ferred elements from these sources.
5.2. Results
5.3. Strategies
Four elements of information were common in the stud-
ied sources: (1) numerical properties, (2) additional text The proposed presentation form provides in the needs
about performance and key functionality, (3) a picture of for comparable information and is accessible on multiple
the materials or applied materials and (4) the chemical for- detail levels. Software databases provide possibilities for
mula. Furthermore, two ways of interacting with the infor- comparing data and for accessing and presenting data in
mation were encountered: (1) the way product designers different ways. However, the other needs are still under
can obtain the information and (2) the way they can com- exposed in this proposed presentation form: Concerning
pare different materials. The elements and ways of interact- product related issues, only sensorial aspects are included.
ing formed the basis for the measurements on product The material samples need is not fulfilled by providing
designers’ representation preferences. information via a software database.
Table 3 shows that mechanical, general (density, prize)
and sensorial properties are of most value to both expert 6. Fourth study: Material samples offering applied
and student designers. These properties were preferred in information
the same order by both experts and students. The order
of the other properties differed. Both groups prefer proper- Product designers mention problems related to product
ties explained in numbers and text. Experts prefer to obtain issues with current information sources. How the materials
these numbers in exact values and students prefer a range a product is made of perform during all aspects of the life
of values. Both groups prefer a picture accompanying the cycle of the product is often unknown. Products are man-
data and do not need a chemical formula of the material. ufactured, transported, stored, sold, used, disposed and
How product designers prefer to obtain or compare the recycled and all processes have specific influences on mate-
rials. As a consequence, for a reliable selection, product
1
Integrated Product Design master at the Faculty of Industrial Design designers need information about how materials perform
Engineering, Technical University of Delft, The Netherlands. during these circumstances. However, materials are tested
 I.E.H. van Kesteren / Materials and Design 29 (2008) 133–145
with standard experiments to identify their parameters. In
these test are temperature, humidity and stress standard-
ized, but in real life these factors change during the lifespan
of the product, which influences material performances.
Datasheets that only provide information based on stan-
dard tests are therefore not sufficient. Predicting how mate-
rials behave during the lifespan can partly be done by
lab experiments and finite elements calculations. Product
designers use experience from former projects, test mate-
rials in products and assess existing products to deal with
the lack of product related information about materials.
Materials in existing products have proven their perfor-
mance. In addition, they show the limitations of materials
if products show imperfections. Furthermore, product
designers predict the appearance of materials in the prod-
uct. One of the interviewees of study 1 mentioned that they
make image scans of materials to use them in computerized
presentations. In the following, a study is presented that
shows how material samples offer applied materials
information.
6.1. Method
The aim of the fourth study was to explore what kind of
information product designers look for in a material sam-
ple and whether they use samples for applied materials
information. Thirteen product designers and two materials
suppliers participated in an interview in person or by email
to discuss a range of issues including whether and how
material samples were used and what kinds of information
was looked for in the sample. In addition, was discussed
whether samples were organized in a collection and how
product designers get the samples.
6.2. Results
A list of aspects that product designers are looking for in
a material sample was made. From this list the aspects
mentioned by at least three of the 15 interviewees are put
in Table 4. Colour and texture are the most mentioned
aspects product designers were looking for in a sample.
The product related issues that samples provide thus
Table 4
The aspects that material samples provide information about
Aspect
Contain the following characteristics:
Colour
Texture
Thickness
Production technique
Scratch resistance
Supplier portfolio
Can be used for customer presentations
Can be hold, touched and looked at from all sides
Easy to store in boxes
Colour and texture, both non-technical parameters, are on top of the list.
141
concentrate on sensorial aspects. However, other aspects
come forward too, such as production techniques and sup-
pliers portfolio.
Six of the 13 product designers scored a set of sample
types on what characteristics the sample provides informa-
tion, on how informative the sample is and on its frequency
of use. The sample types were chosen from a sample collec-
tion at the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering in the
Netherlands (Table 5).
Raw materials such as granulates are not very informa-
tive and not frequently used according to the interviewees.
All the other sample types have their specific combination
of information characteristics (colour, texture, size, mate-
rial and process) that can be found in that sample. Pro-
cessed materials and joining techniques are the most
frequently used sample types. Preformed samples, joining
techniques, process techniques and broken products are
judged as the most informative material sample types.
Summarizing, product designers look for colour and
texture aspects in a sample. In addition they most fre-
quently use samples that represent product related issues.
6.3. Strategy
Material samples do provide information about product
related issues, but the type of sample influences what infor-
mation it provides. The strategy is to offer product design-
ers different types of material samples. It is wise to design
the samples so that different product related aspects such
as sensorial aspects or manufacturing techniques come for-
ward in the samples.
7. Fifth study: Using sample collections
Product designers consider how materials of a product
will influence the senses of the user. They therefore test
material samples with their own senses. Material suppliers
produce customized samples to demonstrate for example
different colours, shapes, connections and effects, but do
also have sums of standard combinations. Samples are
not only useful for visual aspects, but also for tactile per-
ceptions such as the roughness or flexibility, and even for
auditory aspects such as the sound materials make. The
problem with material samples is that they have high pro-
duction costs. Small design agencies have trouble with
ordering samples because they do not order large amounts
Frequency of materials, the client of the design studio usually is. There
are initiatives of collections where designers can browse
10 through material samples such as Material ConneXion
9 [18] or Materia [19] and some design agencies have a mate-
5
rial collection.
4
3 The international design agency IDEO has a well-
3 known collection of material samples and technologies
3 named Tech Box [20]. The Tech Box is a large cupboard
3 with drawers full of samples that is placed on a central
3
place in the companies. Every sample (about 360 in total)
has a name, a place to store and a number, which is used
 142
Table 5
Evaluation of the characteristics, the information degree and the use of material sample types
Sample type Examples Characteristics Information and use
Colour Texture Size Material Process
Processed materials Bending, welding, X X X X Among the most
coatings frequently used sample

I.E.H. van Kesteren / Materials and Design 29 (2008) 133–145

types
Plate materials Steel plate with colours X X X X X Undefined
and textures
Preformed samples Show form giving X X X Among the most
aspects informative sample
types
Presentation files Range of colours with X X X X Undefined
additional information
Half fabricates, parts Tubes, staff material X X X X Undefined
Joining techniques Click fingers X X Among the most
informative and most
frequently used sample
types
Process techniques Pressing, weaving X X X X Among the most
informative sample
types
Raw materials Granulates X X X Among the least
informative and least
used sample types
Product parts Buttons, housings, X X X Undefined
screens
Broken products Materials mistakes X X X Among the most
informative sample
types
Business cards Combination of X X X Among the least used
material sample and sample types
company information
 I.E.H. van Kesteren / Materials and Design 29 (2008) 133–145 143

to search a database from a computer on top of the cup-
board or on the agency’s intranet. For every item the spec-
ifications are listed including manufacturer, prize and an
anecdote by the designers that used the sample in a project.
7.1. Method
The fifth study aimed at getting more insights in when in
the design project material samples were used and what the
added value of the samples and database in the Tech Box
is. Therefore, material samples types used within IDEO
were compared; those from shops and streets, from the
Tech Box and from materials suppliers. Results were based
on an email conversation with a materials specialist of the
agency that provided information about how product
designers worked in the agency [21]. Furthermore, a ques-
tionnaire was filled in by an experienced designer who
reflected on his own experiences [22].
7.2. Results
In the beginning of a project, the product designers go to
shops to find products related to their project to use as
inspiration. ‘‘Inspiration is found on any level; materials,
mechanism, texture, brand, experience, function etc’’ [21].
Designers come across these kinds of samples during holi-
days, shopping for daily items or before a workshop [22].
‘‘The Tech Box is mostly used as a spark for brainstorms
when designers bring the demo samples into a group meet-
ing’’ [21]. The samples increase the flow during a brain-
storm. They show the strength of a material and what its
look and feel is [22]. Material samples from suppliers are
used throughout the design process. In the beginning, sam-
ples are used for inspiration or to discuss possibilities with
suppliers. In the middle of projects, the samples are used
for new ideas. Towards the end samples are used to start
specification of materials. Material samples are in this stage
also used to perform experiments that range from subtle to
extreme destruction manipulations [21]. Materials suppliers
provide samples on request or visit the agency for presen-
tations of new materials. These samples are used to see
the range of the available materials [22].
The three kinds of samples used by the product design-
ers, do not differ much on terms of attractiveness to the
designer, how essential they are for a project and whether
they are usable. However, they did differ on some aspects.
For the samples gathered from shops and streets no addi-
tional information is available. Only the samples in the
Tech Box were found easy to archive. The samples of the
Tech Box feed the designer’s imaginations more than the
other samples, probably because only the most exiting sam-
ples end up in the Tech Box.
Regarding the combination of physical sample collec-
tion and the online database the product designer made
the following remarks: The database is used to get the costs
of a material or to see the notes made by colleagues. The
database helps to find samples and is a strong tool for orga-
nizing the samples: ‘‘I trust it over my memory’’ [22].
Summarizing, material and technology samples are inte-
grated in the design projects of the IDEO design agency
especially for the early phases in a project such as kick
off and brainstorming but not limited to these phases.
Product designers find the material samples a rich source
in which many aspects are found including product related
and sensorial aspects. The use of samples is embedded in
the design process of the studied design agency.
7.3. Strategies
Material samples provide in the need to use information
in different design phases. However, earlier stored samples
were used in early design phases and custom made samples

Table 6
Overview of findings
Study
1. Currently used
information sources
2. Comparing materials in
databases
3. Presenting information
about materials on
multiple detail levels
4. Material samples offering
applied information
5. Using sample collections
Aim
Identify how aspects related to product design come forward in
currently available and used information sources. Formulate
themes that represent product designer’s information needs
Compare the usability of different materials databases. Find
strategies to improve how databases compare materials
Explore in which form product designers prefer materials data
to be presented so it can be used during most design phases.
Propose a presentation form
Explore what kind of information product designers look for
in a sample and whether they use it for applied materials
information. Find strategies to improve samples
Get insights in when in the design project material samples are
used and what the added value of a sample database is
Main findings
Four themes:
1. comparable information
2. information related to product issues
3. information on multiple detail levels
4. material samples
 Include information related to product issues such
as manufacturing processes and sensorial aspects
 Enable access via multiple detail levels and present
the compared information in general terms as well
as specific terms
 Combine a comparison function with a function
that accesses the data via multiple detail levels
 Provide product designers with different types of
material samples that offer information about vari-
ous product related aspects
 Offer a database that adds information to a sample
such as supplier information and notes
144 I.E.H. van Kesteren / Materials and Design 29 (2008) 133–145
FLEXIBLE
DATABASE
Material
properties
Access via a variety of strategies
Sensorial
properties
Access via multiple detail levels
Process
properties
Geometry
properties
Access via product related aspects
General
information
Supplier
information
Pictures
Fig. 2. Strategies for improving information about materials for product designers.
in detailing phases. A strategy stemming from both this
study and study 4 is to have a collection with different
kinds of samples and a list of suppliers to order customized
material samples. These samples may than provide in the
need to have information about product related issues,
on sensorial aspects and the need to have information on
multiple detail levels. A database is advised to structure
the samples and to find additional notes.
8. Discussion resulting in strategies for improvement
At the end of studies 2–5, strategies were provided based
on the results of these studies. In this section these
strategies are combined leading to the challenges in devel-
oping and providing product designers information about
materials. For an overview of the findings of studies 1–5,
see Table 6. Fig. 2 provides a chart of the suggested
strategies.
Advantages of databases are that the same data can be
accessed via multiple ways and that data can be presented
in different detail levels. Challenges for current database
software are to extend these advantages to meet the need
of information on multiple detail levels. Product designers
may then use the same database in different design phases.
A combination of general information about materials and
information from suppliers in the same database may pro-
vide in this. Access to the data via multiple strategies is
advised. Databases that contain information about materi-
als may easily fulfil the comparing need of product design-
ers. There are plenty of initiatives that present information
in a comparable way, including databases from materials
suppliers.
Main challenges for developers of databases are provid-
ing in the need for product related aspects. In some dat-
abases sensorial aspects are presented and in some other
databases manufacturing aspects. As the need for product
related aspects indicates, product designers prefer informa-
tion about other product related aspects as well. Combin-
ing information about two aspects, such as materials and
MATERIAL
SAMPLES
Output on comparisons Material
properties
Output on multiple detail levels & Sensorial
properties
Process
properties
Output on product related aspects Geometry
properties
processes in CES, makes it easier to compare materials.
The question is however, which other product related
aspects can be combined with materials in a database.
Studies on this topic may results in databases that provide
in three of the information needs of product designers
(except from the need for material samples).
In additional to a database, product designers need
information from material samples. A combination of a
database and material samples sounds ideal. However, an
all-in one solution might not be advisable. Study 1 shows
that product designers use many kinds of information
sources. The activity of using these different sources may
provide benefits not revealed by this study. Furthermore,
in study 5 an example of this all-in one solution was dis-
cussed. The designers that used this solution still used other
information sources. We therefore not advice to focus on
an all-in one solution.
Product designers need material samples for their mate-
rials selection. Material samples can provide in the other
needs as well. A strategy for providing in the need of infor-
mation about product related issues is to develop different
types of samples of the same materials. For example one
sample demonstrated colour, one texture and one joining
techniques. Material samples are currently used in different
design phases and thus seem to provide information on
multiple detail levels. However, developers of information
about materials are advised to elaborate on this to under-
stand which material sample types are used in the different
design phases.
9. Conclusions
Product designers need information about materials that
is adjusted to their design approaches. Information about
materials that can be compared to other materials, has
multiple detail levels, contains information about materials
related to product issues and in addition shows a material
sample, is expected to be best adjusted to the selection pro-
cess and considerations of product designers. These themes
 I.E.H. van Kesteren / Materials and Design 29 (2008) 133–145
answer the main question of this paper, namely which char-
acteristics information about materials should have to meet
the needs of product designers.
Currently used information sources contain aspects of
the needs of product designers, but improvements are pos-
sible. When developers of information about materials
study the presented themes and implement the results, this
will lead to information that provides product designers
with information that is suitable for their specific
approaches and needs. Main challenges in this are to study
how information about product related aspects can be
implemented in databases. Besides, the challenge is to pro-
vide product designers with a set of material samples that
support the need for non-technical aspects and can be used
during different design phases.
Acknowledgements
Appreciation goes to the students who contributed to
the studies presented in this paper: Daan van Tulder, Arjen
van Spronsen, Stefanie Tumewu, Kittin Tang, Heleen Buijs
and Bregje Nabuurs. They are students from the faculty of
Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Tech-
nology in The Netherlands. All product designers and
materials experts who participated in one of the five stu-
dents are acknowledged, especially Kara Johnson and
Rickson Sun from the IDEO design agency for their help
on the Tech Box study.
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