The design of material products corresponds to the synergy of three complementary scientific fields: - organizational sciences associated with concepts and the implementation of a systemic approach, - engineering sciences associated with models describing the behavior of matter in a broad disciplinary field, - mathematical sciences associated with analysis and optimization tools. These three scientific fields are taught in General Engineering Schools such as Centrale Lyon and the educational objective of the profession is to present to students their articulation and their implementation in an industrial context. In accordance with the evolution of the design profession, the product-process link will be presented within the framework of two sectors integrating the three engineering disciplines covering all material products: Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering. Major societal issues are addressed, namely ecology by introducing the notions of recyclability and embodied energy, and innovation by presenting strategies capable of ensuring the success of new products.
The design business covers a very wide range of activities in design offices. In addition, the concepts put forward in the lessons are essential for introducing innovation into projects, controlling the quality of products and their recyclability at the end of their life. The industrial sector concerned is very vast encompassing Civil Engineering, transport, energy production and health.