The art of CMF design; colors, materials and finishes

Table Of Content

• Enhancing User Experience
• CMF PLAYS A FACTOR IN HOW BRANDS STAND OUT. HOW DOES CMF AFFECT THE PERCEPTION OF A PRODUCT?
• CMF Design in Branding and Visual Identity
• Impact on production costs
• Building a no-nonsense, practical resource for designers and curious minds.
• Interior Design • Renovation
• Considering Environmental Impact

Essentially, what we do with every product is to convey emotion, and CMF elevates the product by accomplishing that emotion we want to convey. It allows us to choose the colors, materials, and finishes that will compliment each aspect of the product. For example, you wouldn’t want the form language to be aggressive, and CMF to be soft–they all have to compliment each other to complete the entire package. Explore real-life examples of products that have leveraged CMF design to achieve remarkable success. We will analyze the strategies and design choices that led to their triumph and draw valuable insights for your own projects. The perfect home reflects your lifestyle while also meeting your every need.

Enhancing User Experience

The Pantone Matching System and the RAL Color System are the predominant tools employed for establishing color standards. While the Pantone Matching System is widely favored by designers and engineers in the United States, RAL continues to hold sway in Europe. Manufacturers engaging with global clients are likely to have familiarity with both these systems. Domestika's courses are online classes that provide you with the tools and skills you need to complete a specific project. Every step of the project combines video lessons with complementary instructional material, so you can learn by doing.

CMF PLAYS A FACTOR IN HOW BRANDS STAND OUT. HOW DOES CMF AFFECT THE PERCEPTION OF A PRODUCT?

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As you can see from the examples in this post, SLA printing is a highly adaptable 3D printing process for any product development team trying to achieve the right CMF characteristics. SPI surface finishes range from untreated “as machined” surfaces to high gloss, with many options in between. For “as machined” surfaces, the witness marks of the cutting tools are obvious. As machined surfaces are rarely used for the end user-facing side of an injection molded or plastic part, but are sometimes specified for the hidden, inside surfaces of parts to save tooling costs. CMF is also often used to refresh or re-purpose your existing product, it's a strategy often used to rejuvenate a product line without the cost of new tooling or manufacturing equipment.

CMF Design in Branding and Visual Identity

In our concept development phase, we consistently offer multiple CMF alternatives for your product, providing you with the flexibility to choose or mix and match as desired. These options are rooted in the earlier stages of technical material selection and the creation of branding mood boards. We should emphasize that becoming a good CMF designer takes time, much like it takes time to become a good industrial designer. But with CMF design, the better you are at it, the more compelling your products will be and the stronger you are as an industrial designer. This course is ideal for designers, artists, or anyone interested in CMF for product design. When you think of a product it’s quite likely the first thing that comes to mind is color.

Impact on production costs

CMF design uses metadesign logic, the simultaneous planning of the identity of entire ranges of products for a given brand. This makes it possible, for example, to adopt a single color matrix, instead of using a series of separate and different color cards for each line of products, as previously done. A contribution to the development of this approach to design was the impetus provided by the proliferation in the 1980s of complete ranges of new systemic products. From choosing colours that align and complement your brand and the product, to developing a colour palette that helps satisfy your target audience psychologically. We carefully consider and propose colours that are perfectly and practically suited for you product.

Building a no-nonsense, practical resource for designers and curious minds.

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In the fashion industry, CMF design is used to create a wide range of clothing and accessories. Designers use different colors, materials, and finishes to create unique pieces that reflect current trends and the brand’s identity. CMF design is essential in the automotive industry, influencing both the exterior and interior of vehicles.

Interior Design • Renovation

By considering the product’s intended usage and user expectations, designers can choose finishes that ensure the product maintains its appearance and quality over time. Finishes play a vital role in creating a tactile experience and defining the overall product quality. Explore different finishes and their impact on the perceived value and user satisfaction.

As a designer, get to know your audience, then mimic the portrayal of their lifestyle in your CMF choices. CMF design plays a crucial role in various consumer goods industries, including furniture, home appliances, and personal care products. In the furniture industry, CMF designers select materials, colors, and finishes that enhance the aesthetic appeal, comfort, and durability of furniture pieces. For example, a designer might choose a matte finish for a modern, sleek look or a glossy finish for a more traditional, elegant look. When it comes to designing successful products, the focus is often on functionality, technical specs, and user experience. However, one crucial aspect that is sometimes overlooked is CMF design – Color, Material, and Finish.

Considering Environmental Impact

For example, if someone is buying for an industrial context, the consumer will most likely not buy something that easily blends into the environment–they would want something highly visible. In other words, in order to capture a purchase, a product’s CMF needs to appeal directly to the values of your (very carefully defined) target market. If done strategically, the colors, materials, and finishes of your product will outright scream “I belong in your life!

What lowers the perceived value of a product is often the tiniest details. When we make the conscious effort to learn we now have the ability to “sell” our ideas based on tangibles that, in some ways, we can control. Have you ever heard of Total Cost of Ownership, AD/CVD, Long Term Agreement/Contract,  supplier development? It’s completely fine if you haven’t, but I do recommend you do and understand how they influence your client’s business decision making process. All of these elements work together to create a unique visual language for your product and brand.

Learn how to harness the power of colors to evoke specific emotions, create brand identity, and enhance the overall user experience. CMF design must also take into account the manufacturing processes involved in producing the product. Certain materials and finishes may be more challenging or expensive to manufacture, while others may offer more versatility. By considering manufacturing constraints, designers can ensure that their CMF choices are feasible and cost-effective. Just as with color systems, industry standards have been developed over the years to ensure consistency in surface finishes. The material specification for a product plays a big role in both functionality and ultimate product cost.

Designers must adapt their CMF choices to suit the target market and the specific requirements of the product category. US-based designers and engineers tend to use the Pantone Matching System, while RAL remains popular in parts of Europe. Manufacturers that work with global customers will typically be familiar with both systems. Later, the design team introduced edge-glow semi-transparent plastic, which comes with fluorescent glowing around the sharp edges.

For designers, it is a tactical step in Industrial Design that gives us a deeper understanding of our target audience and user experience. Understanding this concept contributes to brand recognition, and allows a product to reach its full market potential. Finish techniques are continually evolving, offering new ways to create unique and captivating product designs. Stay informed about the latest finish trends, such as holographic or iridescent finishes, textured or embossed surfaces, and innovative coating technologies. By incorporating these techniques into your CMF design, you can create products that stand out in the market and captivate consumers’ attention.