The Integration and Innovation Design Lab specializes in designing and developing innovative products by combining design and engineering and researching related methods and processes. Our research has focused on applying and demonstrating these methods and processes in the design of products for the elderly, rehabilitation devices, and health care and safety.
To demonstrate leadership in the product development process, designers must be capable of presenting creative design concepts and implementing them using technology and engineering principles. They must also collaborate with professional engineers to apply new technical principles to the design concepts. To achieve this, our laboratory expands and explores the design process within the broader context of product development, actively incorporating engineering knowledge to foster design-engineering convergence and create innovative design.
Product design and development encompass three essential elements: functionality, usability, and aesthetics. Functionality involves applying mechanical, electrical, and electronic principles to ensure a product performs its primary function effectively. Usability pertains to ergonomic considerations such as size, shape, interaction, and interface. They are determined through a human-centered design approach based on the user's physical and mental characteristics. Aesthetics involves the symbolic and emotional aspects a product conveys, influenced by user types and the environment in which the product is used. Achieving aesthetic and emotional design is an integral part of this process.
We comprehensively explore industrial, engineering, and ergonomic design methods and processes to incorporate these three elements effectively. Based on this foundation, we establish a model where design-led product development directly contributes to society and industry through technology transfer and commercialization while integrating creative design concepts into tangible products.
Notable research and development outcomes from our lab include the "data-based elbow-joint rehabilitation equipment," "brain wave-based smart helmet," and "ICT-based body balance and stretching training equipment." We have successfully transferred and commercialized technologies such as "UCUBE," a creativity education training toy, and "Anybaro," a home stretching training equipment. Currently, we are conducting a design study for a robot product service system catering to the entire life cycle care of the elderly.
Through our achievements, we take pride in being the domestic and international leading laboratory in the design-engineering integrated product design and development methodology field. Our research and experiences equip students in our lab with design creativity and engineering realization skills, enabling them to transition seamlessly between the roles of designers and engineers while leading the entire product development process. This experience empowers our students with design creativity, engineering expertise, and the qualifications necessary to guide the product development process as design engineers.