1. Definitions and Core Concepts
Industrial Design (ID) is an interdisciplinary field that systematically designs the function, form, material, structure and user experience of industrial products based on engineering, aesthetics and economics. Its core goal is to improve the practicality, aesthetics, market competitiveness and user satisfaction of products through innovative design, while taking into account the needs of production efficiency and sustainable development.

According to the definition of the International Industrial Design Association (ICSID), industrial design is "the use of technical knowledge, experience and visual perception to give new quality to mass-produced products", covering the design optimization of materials, structure, form, color and other elements. The 2015 update further emphasizes its role as a strategic innovation that drives business success and quality of life through the design of products, systems, services and experiences.

2. History
Origin: Industrial design was born in the 18th century in the British Industrial Revolution, and mechanized production gave rise to the demand for standardization and mass production. The separation of technology and art led to shoddy production of early products, which led to a reflection on the combination of function and aesthetics.

Arts and Crafts Movement: At the end of the 19th century, William Morris advocated the "combination of beauty and technology", opposed excessive decoration, and advocated a return to the practicality of handicrafts, but it was not popularized due to anti-industrial tendencies.

Bauhaus and Modernism: Founded in 1919, the German Bauhaus School proposed that "form follows function", promoted the integration of technology and art, and laid the foundation for modern industrial design.

Contemporary development: Since the beginning of the 21st century, industrial design has evolved to intelligent, sustainable and user-participatory design, combining digital technologies (such as CAD, 3D printing) and green concepts to become the core driving force of the innovation economy.

3. Subject Scope and Classification
Broad scope: including product design, environmental design (e.g., interior, urban planning), communication design (e.g., graphic, UI design), and design management.

Narrow scope: focus on product design, subdivided areas such as:

vehicle design (automobiles, aircraft);

consumer electronics design (mobile phones, home appliances);

medical device design (taking into account both function and human-computer interaction);

Furniture & Homeware Design (balancing aesthetics and practicality).

4. Design process and methodology
Definition of requirements: Based on market research and user research, clarify the function, cost and user experience goals.

Creative Sketching: Present preliminary design ideas using hand-drawn or digital tools to explore the possibilities of form and structure.

Prototype development: Optimize the design using 3D modeling, material experimentation and ergonomic analysis to produce functional prototypes.

Mass production: Coordinate engineering, production, and supply chain to ensure design manufacturability and cost control.

5. Social values and development trends
Economic value: Studies have shown that $1 investment in design can bring a return of $47 in profits, significantly increasing the added value of the product.

Sustainable design: Emphasizing material recycling, low-carbon production and environmental protection throughout the life cycle, such as green appliances and modular products.

Intelligence and digitalization: The Internet of Things and AI technologies promote the intelligence of products, such as smart homes and interactive wearable devices.

Cultural integration: Chinese design emphasizes the combination of traditional culture and modern technology (e.g., the Palace Museum, Huawei products) to enhance its international influence