New materials adoption study: some contributions to design knowledge

Abstract Because it is difficult to study professional designers directly, other ways of getting information are worth consideration. Research into the adoption of new materials by industry provides an encouraging example. Here, data on materials adoption were collected in two ways: by questionaire and by case history compilation. Six known models of designer behaviour were found to hold for adoption; there were no contrary instances. Many of those who make decisions on materials adoption are designers. Features which were found to be significant in materials adoption are argued to be important in designing: small group decisions throughout a project, the influence of management attitudes, the kind of industry involved, low levels of awareness of information and of potential consequences of decisions. These conjectures await refutation.