No. 2 (2022)

For the second consecutive year, the Editorial team of this publication joins the celebration of World Industrial Design Day through the publication of a new issue. With this issue we want to give visibility, freely and free of charge, to a total of seven projects by 14 researchers and professionals from four countries and seven different universities or entities. This issue offers readers three informative works with the participation of 3 professionals and/or guest researchers. These contributions correspond to the well-known industrial designer Ramón Benedito (Spain); the designer of services for the Finnish government Mariana Salgado and Deger Ozkaramanli, researcher at the University of Tuenti (The Netherlands).
In addition, the issue features four scientific contributions from professionals from the universities of Buenos Aires (Argentina), Politécnica de Madrid (Spain) and ESNE (Spain).

In these pages, the users as a source of information for the design of new products are of particular importance. Techniques, case studies and research methodologies are cited. All of them are of interest to bring the product closer to the needs and desires of users in a globalised and constantly changing world.

The need to confront users with "dilemmas" that make them decide and weigh up the needs they really have, the emotions and reactions they will have to any product on the market is established. It also indicates the importance of considering new technologies and forms of connectivity as agents that bring about a social change of connectivity between subjects.

Furthermore, the question is raised as to whether industrial design professionals should be able to predict whether the changes or consequences derived from the innovation brought about by their work could be positive or negative for society. Mariana Salgado demonstrates the importance of using design to build inclusive and transformative policies that lead to a better understanding and well-being of society in general. Ramón Benedito brings us closer through his opinion column to this globalised world, and to the need to combine engineering and design from the earliest stages of any design professional, calling for academic university training.

The professionals converge with Argentinean researchers and academics, who present a case study carried out in a subject at the University of Buenos Aires through the creation and application of materials for the construction of prototypes of products designed by their students.

Finally, and also linked to the latter, the importance and necessity of using sustainable materials in the design of new products is not overlooked.