What does industrial design encompass in product design?

Industrial design encompasses the practice of designing products and systems specifically for mass production. This approach is pivotal in ensuring that products not only meet consumer needs and preferences but also can be efficiently manufactured at scale. A key characteristic of industrial design is its focus on functionality, usability, and form, all while considering the economic aspects of production to make the product viable in a competitive market.

By focusing on mass production, industrial design allows for the creation of items that can reach a wider audience, thereby increasing accessibility and driving innovation across various industries. This practice involves collaborating with engineers, manufacturers, and marketers to develop products that can be produced efficiently without compromising quality or design integrity.

The other options present narrower perspectives that do not fully capture the breadth of industrial design. For example, focusing only on aesthetic aspects or individual custom orders limits the scope of product design to niche markets, while manufacturing processes and supply chain logistics are components that, while relevant to the overall process, do not encapsulate the broader strategic and creative elements central to the field of industrial design.