The relationship between structural design and appearance design in industrial design
In industrial design, structural design and appearance design are the core pillars, and the two present a dialectical and unified relationship of "interdependence, mutual restraint, and collaborative innovation". The ultimate goal of industrial design is to achieve the balance of "practical, beautiful and economical" of products, which is inseparable from the guarantee of function of structural design, and also needs to improve user experience and market competitiveness in appearance design.
First of all, structural design is the basis of appearance design, which determines its feasibility boundary. The core of structural design solves functional problems such as assembly, strength, materials, and processes, and builds a "skeleton" for the product. For example, when the appearance pursues extreme thinness and lightness, the structure needs to meet the strength requirements through material selection or structural optimization; Process restrictions such as injection molding and stamping will also restrict the appearance lines and details, and the appearance design needs to achieve creative transformation within the scope of structural feasibility.

Secondly, appearance design is the extension and empowerment of structural design, giving products emotional value and market competitiveness. Appearance design focuses on visual and tactile experiences such as form and color to shape the "coat" of the product, and excellent appearance design can optimize practicality and aesthetics on the basis of respecting structural logic. For example, the layout of electronic product appearance planning buttons and heat dissipation holes, and the furniture design controls the curvature of the surface, which not only ensures the function but also improves the experience. At the same time, the creative demand for appearance can reverse structural innovation, such as the thin and light appearance of folding screen mobile phones to drive the research and development of hinge structures.

Furthermore, collaborative innovation between the two is the key to maximizing product value. In the whole design process, the two need to communicate and integrate synchronously, and participate in the demand analysis from the concept stage: the appearance and creativity need to consider the structural feasibility, and the structural plan needs to take into account the appearance and experience. For example, the appearance of low wind resistance of new energy vehicles needs to optimize the layout of the body frame and battery pack; The compact demand for smart wearables drives structural miniaturization and lightweighting, while providing room for appearance innovation. Collaboration avoids rework, improves efficiency, and balances functionality, appearance, and cost.

On the contrary, the disconnection between the two will lead to product defects. Emphasis on structure over appearance, products are easy to be rough and dull, losing market competitiveness; Focusing on appearance over structure will lead to problems such as functional failure, unstable quality, and difficulty in mass production. For example, some futuristic concept cars are difficult to mass-produce due to the inability to solve problems such as power layout due to their structure; Cheap electronic products are not reasonably spliced with structure, resulting in easy damage and short life.

To sum up, structure and appearance design are the relationship between "bone" and "clothing": the structure is feasible to ensure the function, and the appearance plastic clothing improves the competitiveness of the experience. In the actual design, it is necessary to break down barriers and achieve the integration of the whole process in order to create high-quality products that meet functional needs and market aesthetics, and highlight the core value of industrial design. ...