Application of system theory in bicycle (dragon) design

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Application of System Theory in Bicycle(Dragon) Design

Tutor: MARIO GUAGLIANO Author: Yixin Shao

Number: 10427644

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Chapter 1 Introduction

1.1 Research Background and Current Status

1.1.1 Research Background

At present, with the development of technology and people's living standard, consumer’s needs for products are enhanced gradually. After several centuries, bicycle develops from the simple form into various forms with different purposes and categories. Bicycle develops constantly along with the wheel of history. In the past, people used bicycle for cycling. Now, they can use bicycle for social communication, playing, entertainment, exercise, competition and other purposes. The modern social technology has become more and more mature, and bicycle industry has developed rapidly with greater R & D design ability. However, design must focus on users and take full account of the problems, which needs to coordinate from system theory. In the past, designers designed bicycles from their perspective. Now, they focus more and more on customer demand. The form of bicycle is very special. The

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shape is decided by its function and usage, and its design is inevitably limited by market demand.

Bicycle is a culture and develops into a cultural phenomenon in the process of continuous development. The origin and development of bicycle is closely related to the needs of modern society. Many countries and people in the world prefer to use bicycles at leisure or when going out as cycling is very convenient. Bicycle development varies from different countries. People in many countries like traveling, and it fully reveals human civilization and politeness. Bicycle has become a very important means of short trip. The bike appearance, function and structure are different with various types, but many of them do not meet the requirements of modern production technology. Therefore, from the perspective of industrial design, integrating system theory into product design and development not only meets the requirements of modern bicycle design and industrial production as well as promotes the development and innovation of bicycles.

Product system theory is applied to product design as the theoretical system with a positive impact on product design. However, there are few examples of combination of bicycle design and system theory, which needs us to study on this basis in order to discover the relationship between bicycle design and product system theory. This topic combines the advanced design concept system theory with bicycle design to provide

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a certain reference and inspiration for product design in bicycle field.

1.1.2 Research Situation

Although there is no typical case of current bicycle system design, there have been successful such applications of other products.

Situation Analysis of European Research:

Philips in Netherlands is a typical representative of design and development of home appliances by systematic thinking. Philips products are committed to product design by systematic design theory. The design director of Philips Professor Stefano Marzano said: "On the one hand, modern science and technology is growing at a steady pace; on the other hand, we realize the negative impact of science and technology. High-tech products have become the 'disturber' and 'outsiders' of home environment. There have been contradictions between high tech and human home environment." Thus, he hopes to connect home appliances with smart home in the future so that home appliances can be well integrated into home environment to change people's living environment and achieve the harmony of a product and home. In order to achieve this goal, Philips began the cooperation with the Italian company Alessi in order to add fresher blood in design, making the design more diversified and innovative.

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Philips is the world leader in kitchen appliances. It mainly adopts electronics and microelectronics technology for core production technology of product structure and function. It has good controllability in product's ergonomics and actualization. Its goods are sold all over the world and it is a very famous company. Alessi is an innovative company that focuses on individual craftsmanship with traditional cultural heritage. They work together to develop Philips-Alessi kitchen products, which complement each other and better solve the conflicts between modern home environment and high-tech products. It is a good try by combination of both the aspects. It can be seen that many companies already realize individual product cannot meet all the needs of consumers. Thus, they begin to innovate and explore in order to integrate the product in the entire system, which is a systematic design trend of product.

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In modern society, many companies have realized the importance of system theory in product design. Product design is no longer to manufacture the products but to design to meet the needs of humanity and convenience so that people can use them in more convenient way. Product design needs to better meet people’s living demands, improve living quality and attract customers to buy. But how to grab the heart of consumers so that they can buy freely seems can be found in system theory. System theory can promote the development of product system design in order to design the products meet the needs of customers.

Situation Analysis of Asian Research

In Asia, the research of product system design is not inadequate by most companies, and the brand of products like bicycle has no relevant design service of product system. But some electronic manufacturers begin the research and development based on product system such as Haier fridge. Haier is the world’s famous home appliance brand as well as the most competitive one in Asian market.

Haier's products are exported worldwide, especially the good sales of fridges. The fridge door developed from the single door into two-door design, which achieve good sales since its production. Later, Haier developed the three-door variable-frequency fridge to change the long-term monopoly of two-door fridge. Later, Haier developed the first

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six-door fridge based on new technology, and fridge industry had entered multi-door era since then.

As fridge "multi-door era" leader, Haier allows consumers to begin the new way of part preservation and break the two traditional ways of freezing and cold storage with independent ice room, fruit and vegetable room and cryogenic freezing zone. The classification is clear and easy for users to classify according to good category in order to avoid food odor and inconvenient storage. Because of clear classification, many kinds of food are stored based on their freshest state to meet the humidity, temperature and nutrition of different kinds of food. The product design technique guided by system design concept makes Haier fridge walk in the forefront of similar products. Haier fridge is the world’s first fridge creator by Internet of things, which allows fridge to store food and connect with Internet by chips but also conduct automatic management of food as it records the name, origin and shelf life of food in the memory card. It can remind customers whether the food is going to be expired or not so that they need to eat as soon as possible.

In addition, with the Internet of things Technology, fridge and supermarket can be connected so that consumers can know food information in supermarket at home and develop a healthy diet complying with their own health according to their own situations. Consumers can enjoy a relaxed and healthy lifestyle. As for a fridge design of Casarte, it

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set a entertainment zone in fridge with functions of video, music and phones. It gives a brand new function to a product by putting product design in the entire home system to be more in line with human needs, which is the systematic design trend of future home appliances.

Figure 1-2 Haier Casarte Internet of Things Fridge

In modern society, with the improvement of people's living standards, product market has entered the era of pursuing a healthy and

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green life. Designers have discovered the starting point of design according to the exploration of consumer demands from the current products. Guided by systematic concept, they leave the products in a complete system to be more comprehensive and richer.

As a necessity in people's lives, bicycle improvement attract the attention of people. Current bicycle design is not guided by a complete system design. Thus, designers should create products from various elements of product system. A small change needs great efforts. The innovation of bicycle design is guided by system theory, which makes bicycle design more complies with human usage as the future research direction of bicycle design.

1.2 Research Purpose and Significance

1.2.1 Research Purpose

In today's bicycle design and research, we need to break the current design limitations by systematic theory and practical significance and highlight the features by combining with usage of modern people with innovative design, which is the issue need to be solved by bicycle design urgently. First, it studies the history, development, culture and human use of bicycles and collects the previous design focuses. Then, it summarizes the enlightenment and inspiration from the previous experience for modern bicycle design, which is undoubtedly a convenient road.

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Aiming at the limitations of industrial product design innovation, the innovative design of bicycle is guided by system theory and to apply the principle of system theory to bicycle design. Through the innovative research and theoretical study of bicycle, it establishes a brand new bicycle design system theory and combines theory with practice to guide industrial design with system method. Then it gradually establishes a sound innovative design concept to improve the innovation of bicycles in order to promote development of industrial design and enrich system theory by practice.

1.2.2 Research Significance

Practical Significance:

In modern society, people’s demands for products continue to improve. In the new market environment, the most important thing is to change new production model and introduce innovative design for companies to survive and develop. Companies adopt system theory to make product design react to the market rapidly in the process of R & D and production process of products in order to meet customer demand, fight more customers and increase corporate income. Guidance of product design by system theory refers to put product in product system and grasp from human, machine and environment to understand purchase intention and satisfaction of customers. If they can master customer demand, they

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will be able to enhance customer satisfaction. Companies also enhance sales and reputation. Customers also get the satisfactory bicycles.

Theoretical Significance:

With the segmentation and development of product design methods, system design method becomes mature gradually. People-oriented design is an eternal theme of design. In the relationship between people and products, people are the main subjects of products. Meanwhile, upgrading and innovation of products is inseparable from human needs. Research of bicycle design in human social system and designing bicycle by product system theory is a practice for system theory. At the same time, it can be regarded as an exploratory application of product system design and can help system design method develop to some extent.

This paper selects the topic to study based on the above practical and theoretical significance.

1.3 Main Content of Research

Research Content:

This paper mainly studies various factors affecting products through the analysis of various components of products design system by being guided by product system design method. It can clarify the advantages of product system theory and discover the factors affecting the realization of

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product system design and some issues need to be resolved urgently. It also deeply explores the design technique of bicycle system from various aspects. First of all, it studies the systematic design connotation and explores various elements of product systematic design. Then it deeply analyzes the various issues of current bicycles from analyzing various aspects of product systematic design in order to explore the advantages of bicycle systematic design. It deeply analyzes the problems and challenges in system design and proposes the realization method. Through understanding human needs for bicycles, it guides bicycle design by system conclusion to design innovative bicycles.

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Chapter 2 Product System Design

2.1 Overview of System Theory

System theory was first proposed by Austrian biologist Bertalanffy, and it was called "biology" at that time. In 1968, Bertalanffy published an article about system theory General System Theory - Foundations,

Development, Applications. Since the, system theory began to develop.

System theory is defined as:

System is an organic body consisting of various elements with specific functions connected with each other. The definition of system theory consists of system, element, structure and function, which indicate the relationship that elements constitute system. System is combined by different individuals after connection and restriction. These components are made of subsystem of products, and system is made of subsystems.

2.1.1 Basic Principles of System Theory

System theory has the features of integrity, similarity, hierarchy, mutation, purpose, stability and openness, which form the seven basic principles of system theory together.

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Bertalanffy pointed out in the book General System Theory that: When we mention "system", we mean the "whole" or "unity." System integrity means that the entire system is made of different elements, and different elements constitute a new whole. These subsystems need their own different shapes and functions, and the new whole is not the simple overlap of subsystems but reflect some new features.

(2) Hierarchy of System

Many elements play various roles in this system, such as positional or functional role. That is, these elements are different and hierarchical. The concept of hierarchy reflects the different system levels and level differences in system.

(3) Openness of System

System and various elements of system are not static. As the system continues to contact the external world, the external environment affects the information inside the system, and system keeps exchanging energy and materials with the external world. Only by keeping open can they develop continuously and system exist in a stable way.

(4) Purpose of System

The existence of the whole system is constantly evolving towards the same direction and state, which is its principle of purpose.

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System mutation refers that a system changes and converts from this status to another status by losing stable status. There are many mutation ways and branches in system development, so system is mutant.

(6) Stability of System

The whole system is open and stable. It can be adjusted within a certain range and will not change the nature of the entire system.

(7) Similarity of System

The whole system is similar with some common similarities in the structure and function of system, which is a different similarity as the manifestation of unity of system.

2.1.2 Basic Laws of System Theory

There is a wider thing than system principles, which are the general control of system theory and the basic laws of system theory. It is the original form related to system and the affirmative and stable relationship of derivative changes. Its laws are divided into five parts: structure and function law, information law, competition and cooperation law, law of development ups and downs, law of improvement and evolution, but we use three of them.

(1) The relationship between structure and function

Structure and function are the basic properties interrelated in the system. Structure is the stable connection between various elements

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within the internal system, and function is the property of relationship between system and external environment as the stable relationship. It is corresponding category compared with system mechanism. Function and structure is interrelated and limit each other. They are different and can be converted into each other.

(2) Information feedback law

Through the regulation of information feedback mechanism, the stability of the system can be strengthened, or the system is pushed to the principle of stability. We summarize the impact of information feedback on the internal mechanism of system stability as information feedback law.

(3) Law of optimization and evolution

The whole system is constantly evolving, and optimization is realized during evolution to display the development and evolution of system.

2.2 Product Design Overview

2.2.1 Product and Product System

The concept of product is wider. It refers to not only the product by industrial production but also things with value and exchange value. Products develop the product chain with various links related to and

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system process. With social development and technological improvement, different disciplines become interpenetrated with each other, and the systematic feature of product is more strengthened.

Therefore, in terms of product system, it mainly regards things as a carrier and forms the people-oriented goods chain to explore why produce the products, why they change, what their status in society is, what the key factors affecting companies and society are, what the impact of complex factors of human society on development, and what the background of material transformation form is. System theory always considers products as a macro thing and studies and explores the vitality from material dynamic lines.

Compared with the single product concept centered by physical form, product system design concept is more suitable for the development of modern society and can better grasp people-oriented nature. Under the premise of really caring about the future of human development, we should continuously promote sustainable products to accelerate the progress of companies and human society. It is visible that product system theory plays an important role in the society. (As Shown in Figure 2-1: A Brief Table of Evolution)

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Figure 2-1 Development from A Single Product Concept Into Product System Concept

2.2.2 Man and product system

The main body of the society consists of individuals. A product always exists to meet people's needs, otherwise it would be valueless, and in today's society with the rapid development, people's daily lives are closely linked with the product. They are interrelated and interdependent. Products, which contain different elements that are closely linked with people, are the subject of conduct and thus directly influence the direction of the product system. In other words, the product involves many factors of the system, and control the development and changes of these factors, so products and systems are interrelated and influence each other, with inseparable and indispensable relationship.

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Fig. 2-2 the relationship of man and product system

2.2.3 An analysis of design concept of product system

The word system, an abstract concept, not necessarily refers to the defined the existent things, and sometimes it can be an abstract thing. The product system involves different elements, structure and function and so on, which is the core of product system. Product system is composed of a collection of interrelated products, each of which is a separate element from one another, with different functions. These elements plays different roles, together to form a more perfect system to meet human needs which reflect product functions. With the continuous expansion of the design concept and the stronger awareness of system, modern design concept has been regarded as a complete system. The study of design should proceed from the overall situation, with a more comprehensive analysis. Besides, each element is the key of the overall which is not negligible. Subsystems

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should be integrated and put into a large external environment for overall consideration in order to establish organic links between subsystems or elements.

Fig. 2-2 product system configuration

Every step of the entire process from production to sales, use, and demise, the products needs to be present in entire social system. (Shown in Figure 2-2, the product system configuration) Products exist in the product systems consisting of internal and external systems. The internal system of products comprises their own style, function structure, material, and color and so on, based on design, manufacture. External system products refer to the use of product after production and social

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performance, including recycle and waste disposal and so forth. The whole product system, an integral system, promotes the advancement of the entire social system to form interconnected product design system which moves in circle.

The continuous development of product design has shown distinctive systematic features:

1) Integrity of product design. The whole process from design to processing, sale, purchase, use, scrap gives expression to integrity. Industrial products indicate not only functional information, but also subsidiary enterprises and geographic information, including corporate philosophy, geographical features, culture, so that the products have a multi-layered systemic significance.

2) Seriation of Product design. At present, many of the products are present in the entire series. A product is like a system that contains many elements. It is of great significance that such a range of products are present in the whole social system for it has significant impact on economy and the society.

3) Commercialization of the product design. The entire life cycle of products from generation to demise is the cycle of a system. The development, production and circulation of the products belong to two different systems. During the circulation process, products become commodities which truly reflect the value of goods.

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4) Ecologicalization of product design. Product design needs to coordinate man with natural environment. In the harmonious systems, ecologicalization requires the ecological product design to promote the sustainable development according to the social needs of our times. Ecologicalization runs through the entire product life cycle, a complete cycle of the system. In this cycle, we need to consider environmental attributes of the product including disassembly, recyclability, maintainability, reusability, etc. and ensure proper function, life and quality of the products based on such ecological objectives. So eco-design process of products belongs to the system design process. Ecologicalization should be taken into consideration during the thinking of the product system.

2.3 Components of product system design

Core functional element

The core functions the main component of a product, which decides whether this product can realize its value. As for the core values of the product, whether from single product concept, or system design concept, the core function of the product is the basic substantial component. Through core functional elements, product value can be well reflected. Currently, many large companies, such as Sony, Motorola, Nokia mobile

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products as a selling point at each stage of launching new model products in order to attract customers, stimulating socialized product systems and constitute a new pattern.

Structural expression element

Structure of the product is mainly used to express a complete form features and to present the parts of a product as an organism. The product structure is mainly shown through the product function and the operation of parts, as well as people's feelings and cognitive structure. These two aspects ensure the excellent design of the product system in terms of functional information messaging, component functioning, shape, feel and efficiency

Form expression element

Form of the product mainly consists of three coordinated and interacted aspects including points, lines and facets, which form a product form system. This form system is in line with the general trend of the moment, and translates expression of form in time according to a collection of concepts of various influencing force on the social changes. Besides, it should attract the attention of consumers and increase their desire for purchase, in line with consumer ’ s habits of choice and cognitive thinking.

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Color expression element

Color is the direct expression of people’s emotion, which requires it to convey rich connotation in the design and arouse people’s feelings. In the product system, constitution of color expression should consist with functional properties of the product and other factors like people ’ s cognition of products. While emphasizing the overall quality of the product, there can be different colors to distinguish different characteristics and properties of different areas so that unique color system can contribute to creating a new sense of fashion and ease.

Material expression element

Material is not only an important part of a product, but also a substantial factor as well as an important medium for communication between man and products. Form and appearance function of products are reflected by the materials visually. For the product itself, material is a direct form of products which is dependent on its support and protection; for users, product materials demonstrated texture, color, temperature, etc. that bring different sense of experience.

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People-oriented expression element

Man is the main user of the product. In the aspect of product system configuration, now it is necessary to ensure ergonomics and comfort of use in the design and processing. On the premise of emphasizing efficiency, people’s feelings, individuation and cultural connotation etc. should be taken into account. In addition, through the improvement of design on the basis of concept of sustainable development, a product system that is low-carbon, sustainable and environmental-friendly should be created. In short, in the present and future design of product system "people" should be regarded as the center, which also means the environment should be the center and human development should be in line with development of the environment.

2.4 Process of product system design

Referring to the previous sections, the regular process of product system design is as follow:

1) Orientation of the system. Make sure what product system the designed object belongs to and figure it out not only to understand its vertical constitution, the ability of product development, but also to understand horizontal constitution, the related factors in the social system.

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2) After the study of system configuration and orientation of the inherent form of products and social structure, the next step is to analyze the structure of the product system, that is, the complex relationship between the various types of factors of products and social systems and structural elements of the same type of product in order to find out required type of product system configuration and its advantages.

3) During the implementation of a production system design, refer to outcome of the previous two steps and the final conclusions of the key issue to develop a product system, that is, advantages of the products. Then study the key issue and analyze its expression element, gradually completing the product system design according to the above-mentioned elements, including product's shape, color, internal structure, semantic expression and cultural attributes and so on.

4) Test the effect according to the overall and detailed product system such as the product's use, form, color and social value so as to improve the composition of the product system, define a good system theme flexibly and produce a complete designing scheme of product system.

5) Create an evaluation system for product system, mainly in terms of the development, design, marketing, sales, social recognition of the product, as well as the product usage and eventual demise which compose a complete system of products, central part of system design. It not only

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provides a strong guarantee for the success rate of product development, but also provides a reliable data source for the re-development of products.

2.5 Study of product system design

With the continuous development of science and technology, many technical problems that are left in the past can be resolved. Product system is not the splice of different functions, but the integration of the different elements that is greater than the sum of the parts and, on the need for detailed analysis of various elements of the product system.

2. 5. 1 Necessity of analysis of product system design

Product system design is based on the people-oriented principle, with fundamental purpose of designing product for people’s daily use so as to improve people’s happiness.

To ensure the whole product system remains safe, reliable, comfortable and efficient, you need to meet the following basic requirements.

Firstly, "useful", that is to meet the expected functional requirements and improve various functional elements of products.

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the internal system so that every element can play its part well.

Next, "want to use”, give users a sense of well-being besides using function of products, allowing users to find happiness from the use of product.

Finally, “recyclability”, that is to express the necessity of product system study from different aspects like materials and design of products.

2.6 Summary

This chapter describes the overall concept of the product system, and the relationship between the product and product systems, people and product systems are consolidated. In addition, it gives a detailed description of products from systematic perspective and summarizes the main process of the product system design. On the whole, system design reflects the people-centered design, and then it gives the goal analysis of the product system design.

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Chapter 3 the Origin and Development of

Bicycle

3.1The development of bicycle industry

3.1.1The history of bicycle development

The bicycle was first invented in Europe throughout the recorded history. In 1791, a French count, Comte de Sivrac, joined two circular wooden wheels with a wooden stand together and finally made a Trojan wheel. German baron Karl Du Les is the recognized inventor of bicycle in the world. In 1817, he created bicycles with handles which required bicyclers to kick to move forward. It is the first time people invented a bicycle without a horse-drawn power. This kind of bicycle which is an embryonic form is seen as the ancestor of bicycle. Early bicycles can only move straight forwards and backwards by pedaling on the ground.

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In 1818, an English blacksmith and mechanician Denis Johnson made an iron wheel framework, replacing wood with iron stand.

In 1839, a Scottish called Mihran designed a crank link rear-wheel drive iron bicycle, using pedals to move forward.

In 1861, Mischel from France with his son invented a bicycle that could move in all directions by equipping it with a rotatable handle. This aroused an upsurge at that time.

In 1869, an English Stanley added steel wires into the wheels. In addition, he differentiated the wheels with the back one bigger, which became so popular soon.

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In 1874, Lu Xun from England improved the bicycle design by using chain to drive rear wheel, thus creating a complete design of drive system.

In 1886, Stanley changed both wheels into the same size. Also, he used ball bearing and chain the drive the bicycle, which was the early form of modern bicycle.

In 1888, an English Tonlip used pneumatic tire in tire design for the first time. This design solved the problem of shock absorption and improved its speed to a great extent at the same time.

Since the early 1930s, the bicycle production in the world has reached 2 million. England became the main bicycle manufacturing country, accounting for half of the production. As bicycle became popular throughout the world, it brought people more convenience with its design and structure improved. But the bicycle industry was affected by the rise of cars to some extent later. It was not until the early 1970s that people became crazy about bicycles again. The bicycle industry developed rapidly with an increasing number of people using it. China and the United States become two large bicycle producing countries in the world.

3.1.2 The situation of bicycle industry

The design of bicycle with a stable structure has been gradually perfect since the 21st century. With people ’ s increasing demands for

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bicycles, this industry in some developing countries develops rapidly. As for bicycle manufacturers, they not only seize the opportunity to broaden their markets for high output and sales, but also exploit the products to meet customers’ needs. This results in more choices for customers and an improvement in both structure and function, which is more suitable for people.

Many bicycle manufacturing companies seize the market opportunity to produce and sell its products. Two companies from Taiwan, Merida and Giant, manufactured their bicycles overseas and gradually developed. Then the company regrouped and broadened their markets with its creative design, which won itself a position in the bicycle market in the 1970s. Since the 1980s, many bicycle factories faced some problems in sales and were gradually purchased by some brands. For example, “Zhonghua daming”, a company in China, once as a famous bicycle brand, was finally purchased by an American company.

Creativity plays an important role in bicycle market. Shimano from Japan attaches importance to technique researches. This company invented a dog driver system for location and speed change in the 1980s, which made it a leading position in the market. In the 1980s, an American company called sram was so good at gear box producing that purchased several famous accessory companies and as a result, became a leader in this industry. Nowadays, the development of bicycle industry needs

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strategies like adjusting the industrial structure, creative development and using environmental materials to help it out.

The appearance of bicycle is different from others’, which is made up of various accessories with different functions. Its structure consists of a framework and systems like speed change, braking, driving and rotating. Bicycle ’ s appearance has a close relationship with its function. For example, some extreme speed bicycles need shock absorption system. So, it has a triangle bicycle stand to guarantee moving stably on the rough roads.

As for the car producing companies, they can improve the bicycle by changing its appearance and accessories, creating more types or implementing some latest technological achievement. To realize some special functions, new techniques and materials are required. So, the companies need to add some new elements and ideas into the bicycle design to appeal to the customers.

At first, bicycle is only a convenient tool for people to go outdoors without walking. Nowadays, it has varieties of functions and is widely used on the sports and competition. Bicycle is also an artwork which reflects people ’ s feelings, personality and aesthetic appreciation. For example, the DeoreXT775 mountain bike produced by Shimano uses some retro elements to give people grumous cultural richness. It has been so popular because of its solid stand which gives people a wonderful

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feeling of power. Bicycles are made up of different accessories according to its function. A bicycle with a strong sense of technology often uses some high-tech materials. Different types of bicycles have their own design points, thus having different structures and functions.

3.2 The operation of bicycle

3.2.1The personalized usage of bicycle

Fig. 3-1 Ride instead of walk

Bicycles were first invented to replace walking. Using the bicycles, we can move faster and save more time. Till now bicycle is still an

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indispensable means of transportation for daily activities such as working, attending schools, and working out, shopping and short trips.

Fig. 3-2 Entertainment

In modern society, people need some leisure time to relax themselves. They prefer to go outdoors at weekends or public holidays nowadays rather than stay at home like before, watching television or sleeping. They tend to use bicycle to replace walking for a trip which is much more convenient. People can choose the places and activities they like with a group of people such as going to the park, climbing the mountains and going picnic. Bicycles which add to enjoyment in our life give them an opportunity to get close to nature and become the masses’

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favorites.

Fig. 3-3 Travel

As a kind of leisure activity, travel means cycle to those places you like to experience a new way of life with other people, bringing baggage. Most of the time, people would prefer riding a bicycle to walking. But when they want to go somewhere far, they often choose mountain bikes which have a better shock absorption, thus being suitable for cycling on rough and hilly ground. Travel mainly includes going out of town or going sightseeing in tourist attractions.

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Fig 3-4 Performance

In a performance, people trained for special skills use bicycles to give a show on the ground, with some music and properties. These performers need training and a good grasp of skills to help them control the bicycles. At the same time, these professionals also need a bike made up of professional accessories.

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Fig. 3-5 Ricing game

Racing, also an expertise, requires athletes to finish a prescriptive distance in a specific place. Bicycle race belongs to racing which determines the winner by comparing their speed and time. Recently, there have been a large number of bicycle races. Some are professional while others are amateur like Huangshan Race, a popular competition for bicycle racing lovers. So, there are more and more people buying bicycles for racing.

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Fig. 3-6 Extreme sports

Extreme sports here means that the user in the pursuit of a sense of speed and excitement complete a series of difficult movements with a bicycle. As a dangerous sport, participants need to wear some protective outfits. The extreme sports refer to riding in a free style or a street style.

3.2.2 Classification of individualized bike demands

(1) Functional demands

Products are carriers of functions. Consumers buy a product based on their demands for functions. How to meet consumers’ demands for functions is an issue of great concern to product manufacturers. With the

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gradual maturity of the market and the increasingly fierce competition, manufacturers often need to spend more time thinking about how to improve products’ existing functions and create new functions as well. For example, the water glass is used to drink water, but it is of various forms. From the perspective of form, the water glass should not only meet the function of carrying water and deliver a visual beauty, but also accommodate more to the convenience of easy holding, placing and cleaning.

Those products oriented towards meeting functional demands, individualization is generally reflected in two aspects, namely information transmission and use methods. First, since products are the carriers of products, how designers transmit the functional information of products to consumers is key to the success of products. Take the water glass for example. The convex particles on the handle should increase friction, and implies the handling part. Second, individualized use methods can give consumers psychological and physical satisfaction. Mobile phones with the touch screen and wireless mice are representatives of the kind.

In terms of product form design, individualized functions are mainly realized through modeling, colors and materials. For example, PH lampshade designed by Paul Henningsen from Denmark features a

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beautiful and elegant modeling, and creates a non-glare environment; he traffic indicator lights change their colors to keep the traffic in order; the British Crystal Palace mainly made up of iron and steel, and glass met exhibition requirement, etc.

With the development of product design, diversification, practicability and individualization of product functions are well combined to realize the harmonious integration of multiple functions and fashionable appearance. As long as modeling, colors, materials and other form elements can be reasonably utilized to convey the product information and development product use methods, products can obtain an invincible position in the fierce market competition.

(2) Emotional demands

The rapid social and economic development has led to the material prosperity. Nowadays, people have more and more emotional demands, and these emotional demands are diversified, segmented and differentiated. As an approach for consumers to realize self-value, and display individual sentimental demands, individualized demands are developed on the basis of consumers’ ordinary emotions. They are not only a part of emotional demands, but also an extension of consumers’ emotional demands. In some sense, individualized demands can be regarded as the advanced period of consumers’ emotional demands.

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Therefore, research into individualized demands is a development direction of emotion research.

Every person has emotions. Due to different individual demands, emotions vary among different people. Therefore, emotions are individualized. With the rapid development of the current society and the change of humans’ outlook on value, modern people have a higher requirement for individualization, which is reflected in multiple aspects in society. In terms of product forms, emotional individualization is mainly decided by appearance and colors. Exquisite outlook, harmonious color match and convenient use are bases for products to leave a good impression on consumers. Consumers’ purchase desire will be thus increased, thus the goal of stimulating consumption is achieved.

In terms of industrial products, easy operation is very important. However, more importantly, the product should give users pleasure. Modern people are no longer content with just material demands. Individualization has become a social mainstream. Consumers are willing to pay more for emotionalized products. In the fiercely-competing marketplace, operators have realized the demands for emotionalized products, thus giving rise to a limited number of environmental-friendly and barrier-free designs.

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designers improve their products’ market share by endowing products with emotions, personality, fun and life. Humans’ emotional demands are growing. At present, children no longer mechanically imitate their parents, but create their own value. Product designs which feature the combination of emotionalized design and form design can strike a chord with consumers. The lemon-squeezer designed by Philippe Patrick Starck is seldom used to squeeze lemon juice, but displayed in restaurants, bars and cafés as an artwork. However, Philippe designed it to help people meeting the first time find common topics.

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(3) Aesthetic demands

Though product design is a material production centering on practical functions, it also has its aesthetic function. Designers lead the public’s aesthetic taste through the appearance design. Consumers usually evaluate a product based on their first impression of it. Therefore, the appearance expression of products should be turned into forms which are easy to be perceived.

Due to differences of education backgrounds, regional cultures, personalities and preferences, different people have different aesthetic perception. Therefore, consumers’ aesthetic factors should be directly reflected on products. Aesthetic individualization includes individualization of modeling, colors and materials. Materials are the material basis for product production and the first element to reflect product design forms. The texture beauty of products is an important part of aesthetics. Individualization of materials is to use the advanced and latest materials in product design to achieve unique effect. Colors are the strongest and the most direct physical stimulation, which can give rise to rich physical and empirical associations so as to meet the complex aesthetic demands. Color individualization refers to the reasonable application of colors, while modeling is the summary and abstraction of natural forms, which can be used to express consumers’ aesthetic demands. Modeling individualization means that humans abstract and

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summarize the natural modeling based on their accumulated aesthetic experiences to meet their own aesthetic demands.

Current products pursue the beauty of form, requiring modeling, colors and materials meet the rules of symmetry and balance, harmony and comparison, which are actually “change and unification” “comparison and harmony” “symmetry and balance” “percentage and scale” and “rhythm and rhyme.” Individualized form design should be stimulated by “change” so as to get rid of dullness. “Comparison” emphasizes on uniqueness. For example, the practical and beautiful lifestyle designs by Georg Jensen in Denmark offer users convenient usage and aesthetic sense as well.

3.3 Modeling analysis of bikes

Bikes are quite different from other products in terms of modeling. Bikes are made up of different parts. Every functional part forms a part of their appearance. Therefore, the modeling of bikes contains the appearance modeling and coating of various parts, including framework, brake system, transmission system, derailleur gear system, wheel set system and steering system. The overall design of bikes is closely related to their functions. For example, the downhill bikes have a long front suspension and a back suspension on the frame. The overall framework is

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a stable triangle structure. The coating of bikes and the modeling of every part are based on social culture, and accurately convey to people their functions and temperament.

Manufacturers need to enrich their product types, and demonstrate the latest scientific research findings. The most convenient method is to alter parts’ coating and modeling. Many special functions call for special modeling, materials and techniques. Therefore, some features of bikes’ parts are a symbol of a brand, and the manufacturer’s technical level and power.

To consumers, bikes have transformed from a simple travel tool to a tool integrating the function of transportation, spots, leisure activities, collection and demonstration of individual culture. They contain an emotional appeal beyond reason. Like watches, bikes are also a fashion artwork which shows the machinery beauty. Therefore, the modeling and coating of bikes have become one of the major factors which stimulate consumers’ purchase impulse. For example, the new-type DeoreXT775 mountain bike parts launched by Shimano Fishing in 2008 feature the retro style in the 1990s, but also gave people a solid sense of power. These parts cause a sales surge in the market. The modeling, functions and materials of bike parts are related to the grade of bike parts. The high-grade bike parts are often characterized by new techniques and

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refined materials, thus the coating and modeling of these bikes impress consumers as a high-tech product. However, the low-grade bike products emphasize on low cost and simple structure, so bikes of the kind often feature a casual and lovely modeling.

3.4 The parts of Bike

3.4.1 Name of different bike parts

Take the most widely used mountain bike for example. In the following picture, the name of different bike parts is marked.

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3.4.2 Framework

The bike framework mainly includes frame, fork, aheadset stem, handlebar, seat post, saddle and headset. Since all the other parts are installed on these parts to form the framework, it is apt to say that framework is the soul of the whole bike. These parts basically decide the types and functions and overall style of bikes, because they account for more than 60% of the space volume.

3.4.3 Suspension system

Suspension parts mentioned in this paper are generally for various mountain bikes. The suspension system includes the fork and shock. These parts boast the highest technical content among all the bike parts. The suspension effect directly decides the safety and comfort of riding.

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Good suspension parts can make the front wheel closely attached to the ground, and alleviate the vibration transmitted to users’ hands. Riders can speed along the rugged roads without any concern. The suspension principle is to absorb vibration and impact through the elastic medium.

3.4.4 Wheel set system

The wheel set system of bikes is made up of hub, spoke, rim, tube and tire. The wheel set system accounts for around 30% of the whole bike volume, so it is also one of the most important parts to bikes. Some bikes adopt rims and tires featuring special colors. Coupled with the coating of the frame, the whole appearance is delightful to look at.

3.4.5 Transmission system

The transmission system mainly includes chain wheel, crank, pedal, axis, chain and flywheel. The higher stiffness and the more exquisite the chain wheel and the flywheel are, the higher effectiveness the kicking on the pedals is.

3.4.6 Derailleur gear system

The derailleur gear system includes the derailleur (derailleur lever or handlebar), front derailleur, rear derailleur and shift cables. The function of the derailleur gear system is to cooperate with the chain wheel and the

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flywheel. Different road conditions should choose different transmission ratio so as to achieve the optimal riding effect.

3.4.7 Brake system

The brake system includes brake handlebar, brake cables and cramp. The disc plate also contains disc. The common brakes for mountain bikes can be generally divided into V-brakes and disc brakes.

3.4.8 Steering system

The steering system includes aheadset stem, handlebar, handlebar grip, headset and fork.

3.5 Application of bike materials

The application of bike materials started from hascrome, then aluminum alloy, then compound materials, such as carbon fiber, and then scandium alloy, magnesium alloy and titanium alloy. Many bike manufacturers keep developing new material formula, improving fittings and physical design capability, and innovate processing techniques so as to make the frame lighter, stronger, more comfortable and beautiful.

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3.5.1 Rolled steel

Rolled steel is the most time-honored frame material for bikes. After the advent of the 21st century, rolled steel was replaced other materials, such as aluminum products, for a period of time. Nowadays, it makes a comeback and is highly recognized by bike manufacturers and enthusiasts. Rolled steel is manly used to make advanced bikes. The advantages of rolled steel include good stiffness after riding for a long term, good flexibility of fittings, multiple fitting joint methods, optimal processing performance, easiness to be welded and no need for heat treatment, so its cost and price are relatively low.

3.5.2 Aluminum alloy

Aluminum alloy is the commonest texture in the current bike market. Even if a little other element, such as magnesium, silicon, copper and manganese, are added into aluminium metallicum, a kind of alloy can be formed. Its advantage lies in its light weight, optimal stiffness and hardness during the short-term, easy moulding and processing and rust-resistance. It can be pumped to be extremely thin, and can have exaggerating appearance and marvelous strength through CNC die cutting. However, its disadvantage is that it almost has no flexibility, and might accumulate metal fatigue.

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than rolled steel. Its tensile strength is one second of that of rolled steel, and its stiffness is one third of that of rolled steel. The bike frame made up of aluminum alloy should get its wall thickness and tube diameter increased so as to achieve required strength. Therefore, bikes with the aluminum alloy frame often look very strong.

3.5.3 Carbon fiber

Carbon fiber is not a metal, but a composite material. Carbon fibers are first woven into cloth. Through the process of pre-soaked resin, it turns into pre-soaked cloth. The pre-soaked cloth is then tailored, laminated and put into the die to be moulded through heating. Various shapes of parts can be made according to demands. Carbon fiber is characterized by light weight, good flexibility, stable riding, continuity of long-term tracking, high comfort and diversified process changes. However, its disadvantage is poor surface hardness, which might easily result in fracture. Moreover, it costs high.

3.5.4 Titanium alloy

Titanium alloy is made up of titanium alloy and other trace metals. The striking characteristics of titanium alloy include light weight, high strength, good flexibility, impact-resistance, good fatigue performance, corrosion resistance and rust-resistance. Titanium alloy almost meets all

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conditions for bike manufacturing, so it is an ideal material. However, the extracting and processing of titanium alloy is very complex and time-consuming, and has a high requirement for techniques, so the cost is extremely high.

The characteristics of titanium alloy make the titanium parts hard to be painted. Almost all titanium parts features the natural color of titanium. However, since the titanium alloy features a unique color and luster, durability, abrasion-resistance, scratch-resistance, rust-resistance and oxidization-resistance. The non-coated appearance also serves as a unique coating.

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Chapter 4 Analysis and positioning of bike

system design

As a transportation, leisure and entertainment tool, bikes are popular among different age groups, so their market share and sales volume are high. As the era moves ahead, bikes are no longer a travel tool, but a living goods which meet different levels of demands, such as culture, entertainment, fitness and even more in-depth demands, such as interpersonal communication, self-presentation and self-recognition. China is a large bike country. In China, the bike industry has become a flourishing business. However, the individualized design of bikes has not yet obtained adequate attention. Currently, most bikes in Chinese market are of some stereotyped styles. How to get rid of the new bottlenecks to innovate bike design, how to make bikes better serve people and respect people ’ s individualized demands, how to fully stimulate people ’ s enthusiasm in using then, experiencing them and participating in bike design, and how to rapidly and effectively achieve customized design of bikes are new concerns for the bike manufacturing industry, designers and the industrial design subject to think about and solve.

The author ’ s bike design differs from the previous simplified applications and the partial reflection of bikes, but transcends the concept

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of “ bike ” and follows the design concept of “ people — thing — environment” system. Thus, how to use the system design methods to integrate and design the bike system is the focus for this research.

4.1 Type and positioning analysis of bike product system

Generally speaking, the product system structure has two basic forms. One is the integral product system structure; the other is the modularized product system structure. The former can be defined as integration of multiple functional units into an integral product structure. Products of the kind feature multiple functions, and give full play to the system functions. Various parts are interconnected to jointly reflect integral functions. The latter can be defined as structural layout in line with products. They are corresponding to various functional branches in the function system. However, products of the kind are made up of different components or modules, and give full play to functions of every component. However, the definition method cannot cover all methods to build the product system structure. Take the modularized product series generally decided by current users. It is an important part to integrate the system structure positioning.

In terms of bike product system, there are fixed parts on the modularized platform and derivative parts for exchange. Obviously, the

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integral system structure is irrelevant to whether the product has an integral or modularized product system structure. However, through comparing the two product system structures, it is found that the modularized design caters more to the development trend of bike design. (See Table 4-1)

Table 4-1 Comparison of modularized system structure and integral system structure

From the system perspective, most current bike product systems just focus on functions instead of the overall system and structure. The product composing mode is integral type. Though there are some part combinations, the parts and the combination methods are fixed. Therefore, while being combined with the adjacent products, they lack harmony. Thus, while designing bike product systems, designers should pay more attention to the harmony, interchangeability and modularity of systems, and unify them through function integration.

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4.2 Bike product system integrated design

4.2.1 Decomposition of system design problems

System design problems should be systematically analyzed and decomposed. This is an important issue for system design. Most design problems are not a single design proposition, but a group of problems. Concerning that, the “ de-scalization ” and “ simplification ” or “problem decomposition ” of problems becomes the only necessary thinking path. After problems are decomposed into various problem elements, they must be reorganized according to certain rules so as to get a complete understanding. The process is called “ combination of problems.” In the face of a group of complex problems, it is necessary to build a well-layered system structure so as to learn the authentic structure of the complex design problems. Based on the idea, problems can be decomposed into many problem elements, which should be classified based on certain criteria. Moreover, a basic systematic relationship structure should be built so as to “visualize” problems.

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Fig. 4-2 Tree diagram of bike product system research based on the system theory

4.2.2 System integral analysis and design planning

(1) The integral system position should be based on the pre-stage product investigation and user requirements analysis so as to confirm the product scope to be designed. A system design plan is drawn up to conduct product system planning from the overall perspective, master the relationship between new product systems and current product systems and learn about how to form new product systems based on which products or modules.

(2) After system analysis, integration and optimization, design problems existing in the bike product system are systemized and assorted. (See Fig. 4-2) The hierarchical relation between various factors is quite clear. In the following part, system analysis, system integration and system optimization of bikes (See Fig. 4-3) are conducted of bikes from multiple perspectives, including use methods, economy and aesthetic

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value. Then, according to the preset product design positioning, an optimal solution plan targeted at the design problems is worked out.

Fig. 4-3 Bike product system analysis chart

4.2.3 System functional module establishment and division

The establishment of functional modules includes the establishment of process description. Here, the author describes the use process in the form of product activity chart, and then decomposes the hierarchical functional structure. Referring to the riding flow chart, the author decomposes the ordinary riding movements step by step to obtain the bike product activity graph. (Fig. 4-4) At the same time, the author divides identical or similar activities into the same section for the

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convenience of decomposing functions and dividing modules.

Fig. 4-4 Bike product activity chart

Referring to the system analysis chart and the product activity chart, the comprehensive functions of bike product systems can be decomposed into smaller and more simplified sub-functions. In the third level shown in Fig. 4-5, several basic functional modules have been divided. During

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the decomposition process, the decomposition of every hierarchy should be based on the demands of users so as to ensure the practicability of sub-functions. Decomposition of two layers or above can be adopted to decompose the functional structure until the decomposition task is completely finished or all the sub-functions are subdivided.

Fig. 4-5 Bike product system function hierarchical decomposition chart

4.3 Chapter summary

This chapter applies the integrated system design methods to the product system design of bikes, including positioning of product system structure, detailed functional decomposition, module establishment and division. During the produces, the author makes full use of the integrated system design concept to simplify the bike system and turn the independent bike design into a process with rules to follow. The research findings can provide guidance and bases for the follow-up bike system design.

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Chapter 5 Systematic bike design methods

5.1 Systematic design thinking

Systematic design thinking focuses on the interrelation, interaction and mutual restriction between the whole and the part, between the integral object and the external environment. Through comprehensive and precise investigation of objects, the goal of design optimization is achieved.

Project design can comprehensively reflect various requirements. The macro environment factors, including humans, society and economy, require the design to adopt advanced scientific techniques, reduce cost, adapt to the requirements of the market economy, adhere to the national and regional traditional culture and contribute to energy conservation, ecological protection and sustainable development.

The ergonomic nvironment comes into being through humans’ use of products. It requires the design to be efficient, comfortable, healthy, safe, human-oriented, interesting and so on. Manufacturers or design decision-makers require the design to sell good, cost less and make more profits. In fact, these requirements also cater to the sales department (good marketability), the manufacturing department (low cost) and the

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be excellent in terms of performance, complete in terms of functions, beautiful in terms of shape, easy in terms of operations and reasonable in terms of price.

Designers and design project teams hope that their design can maximally meet the requirements of sellers, buyers and macro environment factors. At the same time, they hope their creativity and design talents can be given into full play so as to achieve the perfect combination of scientific side and artistic side, functions and forms.

To sum up, design ideas are related to all human activities, so design ideas are systematic and diversified. Generally speaking, product system design ideas are mainly made up of design ideas of strategies, functions, ergonomics, business owners, users and designers. Among them, function design ideas are the dominant design ideas guiding product system design activities.

5.2 Product design based on systematic design ideas

Design ideas are demonstrated through design works. Designers and design teams should design works under certain design ideas. Their responsibility is to provide clients with design plans to show their collective wisdom and design ideas. Ideas are stored in one ’ s brains, while design is reflected through tangible works. The correctness of design ideas decides the correctness of design results. The connotation of

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design ideas is often related to designers’artistic cultivation. The realism creation process is still applicable to modern design activities. Excellent design works are often made under the guidance of advanced design ideas. Poor design works are often a reflection of backward design ideas. Therefore, the relationship between design ideas and design works is like the relationship between soul and body. The following part adopts Smart series of Benz as a case to study its design ideas. The creativity and excellent design ideas of Smart series are mainly reflected in the following aspects:

(1) Functional design ideas

In the 1970s, Mercedes-Benz realized the tendency of expanding urban area and growing automobile number, thus it started exploring future urban automobiles. In 1972, Benz put forward an unprecedented design idea, that is, to design a 2.5m long super-compact car. The length of the car is just half of the standard parking space, which brought new hopes to solve the problems of oil crisis, traffic congestion and space shortage. Its functions are well-positioned. It does not provide the relaxing and enjoyable driving experiences like the modern auto mobiles. Its small luggage space suggests that it serves as a modern scooter, with which urban residents can go for shopping or some nearby destinations.

(2) Artistic and aesthetic design ideas

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“Swatch;” “M” stands for “Mercedes-Benz;” and “art” is the meaning of “art” in English. Thus, the word “Smart” indicates that the automobile series is a work of art made through the cooperation of Swatch and Mercedes-Benz. In fact, the meaning of the word“smart”in English also coincides with the design ideas of the Smart series.

(3) Ergonomic design ideas

The Smart series makes its operation easy for users. The automobile series has no clutch pedal. Users just need to pull forward the shift lever to change to the high gear. If they need to change to the low gear, they

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just need to pull back the shift lever. The inner dimensions are designed for two persons with little luggage. The seat, the operation room and the meter display are all in line with the ergonomic design ideas.

(4) Safety design ideas

The max speed of the automobile series is 137km, which can meet the rate-limiting requirement of 120km/h. The enhanced steel hardness helps it become one of the safest minicars.

(5) Low-cost optimization design ideas

85% of the car can be recycled, because it is designed according to the standard ideas.

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(6) Ecological protection and green design ideas

The Smart series causes little harm to the environment. Almost the whole car is made up of man-made materials. The steel bottom plant features the powder coating instead of the unconventional oil painting. Thus, it emits no solvents, causes excessive pollution of oil painting or discharges the waste water.

Application of system theory in bicycle (dragon) design