Between Expertise and Multidisciplinary Approach: Collaborations
- Efrat Barak
- Feb 17, 2022
- 4 min read
What is more important to drive creativity? In-depth knowledge or a "tabula rasa" approach?
In the previous post, I shared a lesson I learned about materials and people and about two main approaches in the field, this post will deal with the combination of the two approaches mentioned earlier: expertise and multidisciplinarity.
When looking at the leading trends in the world of materials in the last decade, it can be seen that the most interesting and innovative developments come from projects based on multidisciplinary knowledge. It can be understood how the combination of expertise and multidisciplinarity is a key factor for breakthroughs, but since few people (and organizations) are able to think or act in both approaches simultaneously, the most important change in this context is the transition to collaborative work. This is a method that was less common in the past and still sometimes encounters resistance, perhaps for reasons of economy or out of competitive fear, but today it is clear that without it, it is impossible to produce significant changes or improvements in the world. Why exactly?
The main explanation I found for the increasing need for collaborations is that knowledge in the world does not stop growing. After all, twenty years ago, 3D printed materials, touch screens, or smart textiles were theoretical ideas, and today you can already live in them, buy them, and live with them. To develop and implement capabilities of this type, a combination of knowledge from diverse fields is needed; textiles, electronics, architecture, engineering, physical materials, and digital platforms. The need for collaboration is also related to the principle of criticism mentioned in the previous post: the knowledge and abilities of all of us are limited to a certain level and fields, so sharing knowledge and adopting multidisciplinary work strategies are excellent tools to overcome these limitations and achieve important breakthroughs together.
Fortunately, during my years in the worlds of design and materials, I have had the privilege of seeing the change in approach of professionals in industry and academia. It is clear that in order to continue to advance and overcome challenges, expertise cannot be abandoned. But alongside this, space must be created for flexibility and multidisciplinarity and sometimes to return to the blank slate, to the "tabula rasa."
There is already ample evidence that multidisciplinary work and knowledge sharing lead to significant breakthroughs. A compelling example is the fascinating projects of Neri Oxman, which combine art, science, and futurism. Her projects spark the imagination and allow viewers to continue to develop new ideas and possibilities, from the personal and professional perspective of each individual.
How is all this related to Material Innovation? At the core of the field is observation focused on materials with a multidisciplinary approach. That is, a view that examines materials in depth through research, technical data, and practical tests. And at the same time, it also gives a broad picture of trends, developments, and techniques from other material fields, in order to understand the full potential, the value meanings of the material, and more. In the process of material innovation, knowledge is cross-referenced, adaptations are examined, and choices are made according to specific requirements and needs.
Material innovation is a way that offers ways to use materials as a tool to encourage innovation in other fields.
A practical and well-known example of material innovation is the use of textiles, which is very common today in electronic devices, such as portable speakers designed for durability in indoor and outdoor conditions and covered with textiles (in the photo). For history enthusiasts, the choice of textiles may be reminiscent of the speakers in the first home radios that were designed almost like furniture, even before there were any mobile electronic devices of any kind. But if we compare contemporary materiality to a more similar period, for example from the invention of the Walkman until about a decade ago, we find that most electronic devices had a square shape, a smooth plastic and metal shell, and a general appearance that was mainly functional and square. Very different from what is accepted today.
From a design point of view, it can be understood that the current choice of textiles is related to the values of the material and not just its function. Today, electronic devices are a very significant part of our daily lives, we have close relationships with them, and therefore they need to provide a different user experience than in the past. Since the first encounter with the device is visual and also physical, they must be designed in an inviting manner and from inviting materials. In this context, a material like textile, which has inherent values of comfort and homeliness, creates a sense of ease and closeness to the device. Textile is a conscious material choice that helps to connect between the person and the electronic device.
It is important to remember when approaching the process of material selection, that on the other side of the planning, design, and selection processes there are almost always people, who will be their customers or users. In addition to the important functional roles of the material, each material also has emotional and cultural meanings that we perceive consciously or unconsciously. Therefore, it is possible and advisable to combine the functional roles with the values of the material in the material selection stage in order to produce products that not only work as they should but also convey feelings and emotions to the users, which will make them even more successful.