The future of industrial design and its role in Industry 4.0

Industry 4.0 or the fourth industrial revolution is a paradigm shift in manufacture will influence the way in which products are made, which subsequently, will influence the future industrial designer. Industrial design, which is evolving, is intrinsically linked to manufacturing; however, what is required of industrial design to adapt to these new changes to be brought on by Industry 4.0 is yet unknown. A global questionnaire was formulated using the existing literature on industrial design to establish the present state of industrial design practice globally and to identify areas for improvement, as well as opportunities for growth within the discipline. This approach helped define and communicate the capabilities and value of industrial design for future manufacturing industries.