Industrial Design Key Terms

Understand the ABCs of industrial designing

By Howard Robertson

Industrial designing is an important step in the production of any industrial component. It offers the ability to improve the usability, aesthetics and ergonomics of the industrial component. Industrial designing also increases the perceived value and potential of the product.

If you want to use industrial designing services, you will need to be aware of various technical terms relating to industrial design. This guide intends to familiarize you with the industrial design key terms, such as 2D, 3D, CAD, CAID, surface modeling and industrial design rights.

2D (2 Dimensional)

2D drafting involves providing a view of an object or model with only 2 parameters from length, width and height.
Try: Geomagic, Inc., a supplier of software products, offers a glossary of technical terms. You can also read through the description at Toyo Computers Pvt. Ltd., a reputable service provider in the field of information technology.

3D (3 Dimensional)

Unlike 2D, 3D drafting software provides a view of an object or model with all the dimensional parameters: length, width and height. 3D designing and drafting is gaining popularity, as the viewer need not interpret 2D images to get an idea about the final product.
Try: For the definition of this term, you can read through the glossary of technical terms at ELOGIC Technologies. In addition, you can also read through the description at Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V..

CAD (Computer Aided Design)

CAD (Computer Aided Design or Computer Aided Drafting) is one of the most important types of software used for industrial designing. CAD is useful for producing drawings of industrial components. In addition, drawings from some CAD software can be directly sent to CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) systems.
Try: To understand the basics of this term, read through the description at edgewisdom. You can also read through the definition at Nagasaka Co., a reputable company in the field of mechanical engineering.

CAID (Computer Aided Industrial Design)

CAID, a division of CAD, makes use of software to help in product development or enhancement and is extremely useful for producing drawings for various industrial components.
Try: You can read through the basics of CAID at the American Society for Information Science and Technology (ASIST).

Surface modeling

Surface modeling is a feature of 3D modeling that is most often used for designing automotive industry components. In this method, the model geometry is defined by its surfaces.
Try: To understand the meaning of this term, read through the description at MicroSystemsGeorgia.com.

Industrial design rights

Industrial design rights are granted to the creator of designs to reward them for their effort and investment in manufacturing the product. This right entitles the owner to make or sell the object on which the design is embodied.
Try: The European Space Agency provides detailed information about industrial design and the need to protect these designs.

Hague System of international registrations of industrial designs

The International Bureau of WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) administers the Hague System of international registrations of industrial designs. This system gives the industrial design owner the possibility to have his design protected in several countries.
Try: The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) provides detailed explanation about the Hague System of international registrations of industrial designs.