By the end of this topic, you should be able to...
identify appropriate materials based on texture, form and colour, which can also be enhanced by using a variety of finishing techniques.
Guiding Question
How do material properties and classifications aid material selection for a specified manufacturing process or product?
💡 Did You Know? Why does a premium headphone command $400 while a functionally identical model sells for $40? The answer lies in texture, form, and finish.
Why Consider Aesthetic Properties?
Aesthetic properties aren't superficial—they're strategic. When users interact with a product, they evaluate it within milliseconds based on visual and tactile cues: the smoothness of brushed aluminum, the warmth of natural wood grain, the confidence of matte black versus glossy white. These aren't just "looks"—they communicate quality, durability, and brand identity.
A designer who ignores aesthetics creates products that may function perfectly but fail in the market because they don't emotionally connect with users. Understanding how to select materials for their texture (tactile feel), form (how shape interacts with material properties), and colour (psychological and cultural associations)—and then enhance these through finishing techniques like anodizing, powder coating, or polishing—gives you control over the complete user experience, not just technical performance.
Case in Point
Dyson's V15 vacuum cleaner uses polycarbonate with a translucent finish to showcase internal mechanisms, anodized aluminum for structural components (adding scratch resistance and colour permanence), and soft-touch rubber grips (tactile comfort). Each material choice—and its finishing technique—reinforces Dyson's brand promise of "engineered transparency" while solving functional needs. The aesthetic decisions aren't decoration; they're integral to the design strategy.
Learning Intention
In this topic, you'll learn how to evaluate materials not just for what they do, but for what they communicate—and master the finishing techniques that transform raw materials into products users trust, desire, and recommend.
Linking Questions
Which factors of ergonomics influence the choice of a material? (A1.1)
How can user-centred research methods influence the selection of a material? (A2.1)
To what extent does material selection rely on the desired manufacturing techniques? (A4.1)
How do designers prioritize material selection as part of the design process? (B2.1)
Which aspects of material selection do designers have to consider to take a product beyond usability? (C1.3)
How does the selection of a material influence whether a product can meet the requirements of design for sustainability or design for a circular economy? (C2.1, C2.2)
How does the choice of design for manufacture strategies affect the requirements for material selection? (C4.1)
To what extent are material selection and production systems interlinked? (B3.1, B4.1)