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SUMMARY:The Evolution of Product Forms - Andrew Muir Wood
DTSTART:20090211T163000Z
DTEND:20090211T173000Z
UID:TALK17048@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Labi Ariyo
DESCRIPTION:The appearance of consumer products is a key driver of competi
 tive value\, particularly in saturated markets.  Companies cannot rely ent
 irely on functional performance or technological innovation to differentia
 te their products.  Consumer electronics such as mobile phones\, music pla
 yers\, PDAs and laptops have become as much of a symbolic purchase as trai
 ners\, handbags and jeans.  However\, as fashion items in their own right\
 , do these products follow the same trends and cycles that can be seen in 
 apparel forms?  What effect do social\, cultural\, technological and marke
 t forces have on product forms over time?  These are some of the questions
  being explored in this doctoral study\, through literature review\, semi-
 structured interviews with design professionals\, and archival research.\n
 \nThis seminar will briefly introduce the theories on product form evoluti
 on that have emerged from literature and interviews.  A content analysis c
 ase study of the evolving forms of mobile phones between 1996 and 2008 wil
 l be used to explore these emerging theories from a product focused perspe
 ctive. Questions and thoughts on the topic\, the methodology and future wo
 rk are welcomed. See abstract below for further details. 
LOCATION:Marshall's meeting room (next to EDC loft)\, Inglis Building\, En
 gineering Department
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