Bridging the gap

"To bridge the gap between manufacturing and design is more difficult than ever," says Frank Tyneski, senior director of consumer design, Dell Computer.

"When I was young as a designer, the factory was in the company that I worked for. So somebody working on the line would identify me as the designer guy. Maybe I had a goofy haircut or something, who knows? But, anyway, they'd give me a grassroots education on how to make things."

With most manufacturing now done in China or other faraway places, young designers are missing out on seeing "what you draw get translated into drawings that make tools that make parts." Adds Tyneski: "There's a disconnect between design and manufacturing in many places."

Tyneski says today's product development challenges require designers to rely on material suppliers such as Eastman.

"I really applaud Eastman for what they're doing for the community of design, because they're educating young designers about technologies that they may not be aware of but they're also there when you need them to help you solve particular challenges."

Category:

Science & Technology

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• Frank Tyneski
• product designer