Abstract
This research presents an interdisciplinary collaboration between design and chemistry researchers, which aimed to design and fabricate ultraviolet sensor prototypes using functional, 3D printed colour change material. Design and chemistry research streams each employed specialised knowledge and processes: design to engage users and to develop 3D printable concept designs; chemistry to synthesise a colour change material that could be integrated with 3D printing and to evaluate material outcomes. Mediating this collaboration was 3D printing technology and prototypes. These acted as boundary objects, which provided a stable condition at the boundary of each discipline’s expertise where information could be traded, and knowledge integrated. They facilitated syntactic and semantic understanding whereby a common language developed around the 3D printing process and outputs, as well as revealed differences and dependences of each discipline relating to what information was deemed meaningful and how it was used to progress respective contributions. The success of 3D printing as a boundary object was attributed to its effectiveness at mediating and embodying each stream’s contributions. Chemistry knowledge was input into the 3D printing technology in the form of a colour change material integrated with photopolymer resin. Design knowledge generated through user engagement and synthesised in conceptual designs was input into the 3D printing technology in the form of 3D models. The knowledge of each stream became visible to the other through this process and in the 3D printed prototypes. This established common ground on which to evaluate and negotiate outcomes to ensure convergence on a mutually acceptable outcome. The research outcomes illustrate the potential for 3D printing technology and advanced prototypes to facilitate innovative outcomes in emerging research fields. This is important given the recognised challenges of interdisciplinary research and the value it holds for generating novel and productive outcomes when fostered effectively.
Keywords
Interdisciplinary Research; 3D Printing; Design; Chemistry; Boundary Objects
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/eksig2023.133
Citation
Swann, L., McKinnon, H., Boase, N., Mirzaei, M.,and Wiedbrauk, S.(2023) Beyond Boundaries: 3D Printing and Functional Materials as Boundary Objects to Mediate Interdisciplinary Collaboration, in Silvia Ferraris, Valentina Rognoli, Nithikul Nimkulrat (eds.), EKSIG 2023: From Abstractness to Concreteness – experiential knowledge and the role of prototypes in design research, 19–20 June 2023, Milan, Italy. https://doi.org/10.21606/eksig2023.133
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Beyond Boundaries: 3D Printing and Functional Materials as Boundary Objects to Mediate Interdisciplinary Collaboration
This research presents an interdisciplinary collaboration between design and chemistry researchers, which aimed to design and fabricate ultraviolet sensor prototypes using functional, 3D printed colour change material. Design and chemistry research streams each employed specialised knowledge and processes: design to engage users and to develop 3D printable concept designs; chemistry to synthesise a colour change material that could be integrated with 3D printing and to evaluate material outcomes. Mediating this collaboration was 3D printing technology and prototypes. These acted as boundary objects, which provided a stable condition at the boundary of each discipline’s expertise where information could be traded, and knowledge integrated. They facilitated syntactic and semantic understanding whereby a common language developed around the 3D printing process and outputs, as well as revealed differences and dependences of each discipline relating to what information was deemed meaningful and how it was used to progress respective contributions. The success of 3D printing as a boundary object was attributed to its effectiveness at mediating and embodying each stream’s contributions. Chemistry knowledge was input into the 3D printing technology in the form of a colour change material integrated with photopolymer resin. Design knowledge generated through user engagement and synthesised in conceptual designs was input into the 3D printing technology in the form of 3D models. The knowledge of each stream became visible to the other through this process and in the 3D printed prototypes. This established common ground on which to evaluate and negotiate outcomes to ensure convergence on a mutually acceptable outcome. The research outcomes illustrate the potential for 3D printing technology and advanced prototypes to facilitate innovative outcomes in emerging research fields. This is important given the recognised challenges of interdisciplinary research and the value it holds for generating novel and productive outcomes when fostered effectively.