Additive manufacturing has been around for decades, but it appears to be restricted against its true potential. As a result, a concept whereby a material can change appearance after being printed to make way for performance-driven applications is being explored. Consequently, 3D objects can react to the environment surrounding them, giving an emergence of a notion called 4D printing.
During my MDes year, I carried out research into the novel concept of 4D Printing and concluded the need for a functional approach for designers to consider during the conceptual stage in order to design for manufacture well.
4D printing has altered the conceptual stage of the design process for designers in the industry. The programmed shape and the original shape of a design produced by 4D printing will change the mindset of a designer. A designer can no longer design one concept for 4D printing but two, in order to design for 4D printing successfully.
