Augmented Design with Additive Manufacturing Methodology: Tangible Object-Based Method to Enhance Creativity in Design for Additive Manufacturing

Abstract

Additive manufacturing (AM) brings new design potential compared with traditional manufacturing. Nevertheless, traditional manufacturing knowledge remains embedded in the minds of designers and is a real cognitive barrier to design in AM. Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) provides tools, techniques, and guidelines to optimize design with the specifics of AM. These methods are usable at different moments of the design process. Only few DfAMs focus on the early stages of design, the ideation phase, which allows for the most innovation. The literature highlights the effectiveness of methodologies based on tangible tools, such as cards or objects, to generate creativity. The difficulty with such tools is to be inspirational as well as formative. Therefore, this article presents a method to help designers capture the design potential of AM to design creative solutions at the early stages of product design, named the Augmented Design with AM Methodology (ADAM2). This methodology relies on the potential of AM, defined in 14 opportunities and a set of 14 inspirational objects, each representing an opportunity. Dedicated to creativity sessions, this methodology allows forcing the association between knowledge of a company’s sector and the design potential of AM. To validate the effectiveness of the ADAM2 methodology, we use it for an industrial application in a jewelry and watchmaking company. The results showed that ADAM2 promote the generation of creative solutions and the exploitation of the design potential of AM during the early design stages.