The rapid pace of scientific discovery and new technologies has had a major impact on material science, giving designers many more materials from which to choose for their products. These new materials have given scope for “smart” new products or enhanced classic designs. Choosing the right material is a complex and difficult task with physical, aesthetic, mechanical and appropriate properties to consider. Environmental, moral and ethical issues surrounding choice of materials for use in any product, service or system also need to be considered.

• Physical properties: mass, weight, volume, density, electrical resistivity, thermal conductivity, thermal expansion and hardness

• Mechanical properties: tensile and compressive strength, stiffness, toughness, ductility, elasticity, plasticity, Young’s modulus, stress and strain

• Aesthetic characteristics: taste, smell, appearance and texture

• Properties of smart materials: piezo electricity, shape memory, photochromicity, magneto-rheostatic, electro-rheostatic and thermoelectricity.

• Design contexts where physical properties, mechanical properties and/or aesthetic characteristics are important

• Design contexts where properties of smart materials are exploited

• Using stress/strain graphs and material selection charts to identify appropriate materials.

The rapid pace of scientific discovery and new technologies has had a major impact on material science, giving designers many more materials from which to choose for their products. These new materials have given scope for “smart” new products or enhanced classic designs. Choosing the right material is a complex and difficult task with physical, aesthetic, mechanical and appropriate properties to consider. Environmental, moral and ethical issues surrounding choice of materials for use in any product, service or system also need to be considered.