产品设计正越来越深刻地影响这个时代。对越来越多的优秀作品或设计现象涌现，尽管我们有着不同的解读或理解。但不可否认的是，设计师需要跨越学科界限，从中寻找可供参考借鉴学习的知识，扩展视野，帮助自己获取有价值的信息，在不同学科之间创建活性的对话。

本文的研究目的是基于材料和结构要素，从设计的角度探讨材料与结构之间的关系以及这两个重要因素如何对产品设计产生影响，从中寻找一种设计规律，并建构基于这种研究思维方式，对设计师或设计教育产生有益的指导作用。此外，本研究的设定范围是“家居产品”，缘于其既不受材料的限制，也不受结构的限制，具有灵活性和代表性，覆盖面也比较广，即所有已知的工业品材料或结构都可用于家居产品上。换言之，用于家居产品的材料或结构，对建筑、服装、电子数码、家用电器等其他类别的产品也有参考价值。

在展开研究前，作者一方面进行了设计作品尤其是家居作品的定性资料搜集，另一方面采用设计类型学方法对材料与结构进行了整理分类。然后通过横向与纵向比较研究的方法，探讨材料和结构之间的关系，分析具体案例的设计特点，归纳其设计规律。

因此，本研究的成果呈现为一套系统性的分析材料，其内容包括结构类型的定义、各个结构类型的设计特点以及其设计要点、材料的一级分类二级分类、材料与结构之间的关系以及设计规律。

皮亚杰[1]说：“一个整体或一个系统的研究趋向于把所有这些研究整合进来，而且整合方式与科学思维中任何整合方式一样，即在互反和相互作用的方式上进行整合”。从技术层面角度讲，从材料和结构的探讨中抽绎出来的结论，就是对材料学科和结构学科进行整合，挖掘它们之间具体的相辅相成的联系性，通过对材料和结构的相互作用研究，提出可以从材料的角度去分析结构，深入了解结构的运用，也可以从结构的角度去选择材料，充分挖掘材料的潜能。

从研究思维方式来看，由此研究得出的结论是：对属于“交叉学科”的工业设计来说，只有在探讨多学科之间协调整合上才能找到创新突破的出路。设计师必须以跨界的思维方式深入挖掘，比如进行材料与结构之间的关系研究，充分理解材料与结构的活性关系并加以开发和利用，才能更清晰地获得创造灵感与最佳解决方案。

Product design is influencing the era deeply. Although we have various understanding, these are a lot of amazing design works and phenomenon emerged. But no matter which kind of that, it is certainly that designers need cross-border, search from knowledge which can be learned, expand horizons, help yourself to get valuable information, to create an dialogue in different subject.

The purpose of this paper is, investigate the relationship between material and structural, find an design rules. At the some time, I hope that this design rules or the way of thinking, is guide and has effect on the designer or design education. In addition, answer why to study the home furnishing? Because home furnishing with flexibility and representation, is not limited by material and structural, and the coverage is more extensive, all the material or structure can be used in home furnishing products. In turn, the material or structure can be used in home furnishing, make a reference value to architecture, fashion, electronic digital, household appliances and other products.

For material and structure research, on the one hand for qualitative data collection, to collect design works especially home furnishing works; On the other hand, analyze material and structure with the design typology method. Then through the cross-border, discusses the relationship between the material and structure, analyze the characteristics of them, generalize its design method. Finally, write out a system of information with coding.

Thus the final outcomes is a systematic analysis. The system analysis including structural type be defined, the design features and the key points, material classification, the application between material and structure.

According to Jean Piaget said, a whole or a system of research tend to put all these studies integrate, as same as the way of integration of scientific thinking. To integrate material with structure, dig out the relationship between them, from a technical point of view or the conclusion. Based on material and structure interaction study, to analyze the structure from the material point of view, understanding of structure using, also to choose materials from the point of view of structure, find out the potential of material fully. From the research way of thinking, only in the multidisciplinary coordination, could find the outlet or dig deeper in one subject or on one field of research. The designer can be seen more clearly from cross-border thinking mode. For example, the relationship research between material and structure, to help material development and utilization, to help structure application and understanding deeply.