[ 彩材拆拆 x UNWRAP CMF ]
Ch12. Unwrapping CMF Design on Has Your Creativity Been Tested?
Ch12. 拆招CMF設計談你的創造力通過測試了嗎?
CMF is a specialized area within industrial design that focuses on the development of products‘ color, material, and finish. Unwrap CMF shares bite-sized stories with digestible contents for anyone and everyone, inspiring curious minds about CMF Design. Enjoy learning? Use the mentioned terminologies to kick-start your research journey. Messages are always welcome! LinkedIn | Instagram | Email ✉️
When I was working at a cafe the other day, another customer was using the exact same mouse as mine. That made me turn my head to look at the poor little fella in my hand. It has gone through two years of torture – throwing into my bag, rattling with key chains and other sharp CMF samples. And there is quite a lot of “jump-off-the-roof” accidents. (中文請見下方)
Thankfully, the tough time did not make it give up. On the contrary, the surface is still polished and looking new. I could hardly find one scratch.
What we usually call “durable“, is also an indispensable responsibility for CMF designers.
Color proposal is just a start, followed by never-ending challenges, including quality testing. For example, fluorescent material changes color after UV solar; paint with too much metal content will interfere with the antenna performance of a mobile phone; the coating of wearable accessories must pass allergy test; if the making of a kitchenware has any harmful ingredient to the human body, the scratch resistance of the surface layer becomes extremely crucial.
Likewise, surface texture is more than just pattern design: will in-mold texture be easily scratched? If the pattern is done by a laminated film, will it peel-off in high temperature or be bubbling in a high-humidity environment?
Such questions are just the tip of an iceberg. Especially under the rapid globalization, many products are distributed to different corners of the world with diverse temperatures and humidity. Therefore, testing standards are becoming more rigorous in order to adapt to the global market.
However, there is no shortcuts. It can only be done step-by-step with patience, and aim to meet industry standards within the given schedule.
Although there are colleagues to conduct these tests, a responsible CMF designer should be avoiding known risks in advance when making proposals, and continue to work closely during the project process.
CMF全稱為Color Material and Finishing,屬於工業設計旗下專注於產品色彩、材質、及表面處理工藝的關鍵一環。UNWRAP CMF 彩材拆拆圍繞著這個主題,以淺而易懂的小故事拆解CMF設計的日常。CMF學無止盡,善用CMF關鍵字繼續網上鑽研。討論交流請來信至 LinkedIn | Instagram | Email ✉️
前幾天在咖啡館用電腦時,旁桌的客人用著和我一模一樣的滑鼠 。轉頭看看我手中的同款滑鼠,這可憐的小傢伙,歷經兩年多的摧殘,平日裡少不了的是隨手往包包一扔,和鑰匙、材料樣品等尖銳物近距離摩擦,時不時還會發生各種墜樓意外。
好在,逆境並沒有讓它放棄;反之,在時光的重鎚之下,表面依舊光鮮亮麗,充其不過就只有一道淺淺的刮痕。.我們日常說的「耐用」,對於CMF設計師也是離不開的責任。
顏色提案只是一個開端,後續更是層層的關卡,其中就包括測試標準。比如螢光色的素材在UV日照後會急速變色;加了過多金屬成份的噴塗將干擾手機的天線訊號;穿戴配件的塗料必須通過皮膚過敏測試;若廚具底層有危害人體的成分,那表層的抗刮性就變得異常重要。
表面紋理也不單單只是圖案設計:如果直接用模具出紋理是否容易刮花?如果是貼膜紋理是否會在高溫後剝落,或者在高濕度的環境中起泡?
諸如此類的考量只是冰山一角,尤其在全球化的發展下,多數產品分別被經銷到世界各個不同氣溫、不同濕度的角落,甚至是不同人種的排汗排油程度也都大不相同。因此,測試標準也為了適應全球市場而越發嚴謹。
然而,這條艱辛的道路卻偏偏沒有捷徑,只能一步一步腳踏實地:測試、調整、再測試、再調整,抓緊在專案進度時程內,達到符合行業的規範。
儘管有專業的部門進行各式各樣的測試,不過,在提案時事先避免已知的風險,並且在專案過程中持續密切合作,才是一名有擔當的CMF設計師。
若想無堅不摧,必定先經過千錘百鍊。


Products that have gone through abrasion test, their surface including the logo can look fairly new after years of using.
可能是看我如此虐待卻依然無堅不摧,後來同事也入手了同款滑鼠。
身為電子產品白痴的我,大力推薦,好看、便宜、真心好用~

As tiny as a logo, either screen-printing or laser-engraving represent different cost and scratch resistance.
CMF設計師一定看得出來哪個是絲印,哪個是雷雕吧?

Wearable products need to include skin allergy test to avoid skin rashes after long-period of wearing.
其實它們有色差,但這又是另一篇了(而且我還是拍不出色差所以這個話題就先不擱置一旁)。