Plastic mold manufacturing is not a new industry, which means there has been plenty of time to figure out what makes a mold or process successful and what just consumes time and resources. However, the question still remains if it is better to take a more technological approach or artistic when manufacturing an injection mold. The honest answer is that it is going to vary by project.
Expectations for the End Product
Some products simply do not lend themselves to an artistic take. Others rely on elegance and style as part of their selling points. The team managing the plastic mold manufacturing process need to understand what the expectations are for the final product before determining what the right approach is.
If the end product is a small piece that is used in a car, the most successful process is going to be driven by technology so that it is simple and effective. The same is true if the mold is for a bottle. If the end product is actually used on a regular basis, the plastic mold manufacturing process needs to be artistic because consumers want something that looks good, not just function as expected.
Odds of Success for Technology or Art Alone
It is possible to find success with only one or the other approaches. Some plastic molds are best made through a purely artistic approach because the molds require too much attention and detail for technology to be able to execute all of the little nuisances. It is more likely that you will find it is easier to manage a plastic mold manufacturing process or product without considering art. However, the end result will likely leave a lot to be desired.
Technology makes processes more efficient and results in more products in a shorter amount of time. An artistic approach is far more time consuming and costly, but the end product is far more pleasing to look at and usually better suited to a person’s natural tendencies. This is especially true of handheld gadgets.
Mixing Technology and Art
The best results are usually a combination of both worlds. Starting with an artistic eye and working through a number of versions that have the right look, you can then refine the look using technology. It is nearly impossible to be successful today without including elements of both because it has become the expectation. The best in technology is usually also artistically very appealing.
Topics: Injection Mold Design