Exploring creativity management of design for additive manufacturing

3.2. Case study
Case studies are considered to bring high values in explorative research studies, and can clarify 
poorly understood aspects in processes (Yin, 
2014
). To evaluate how designers approach DfAM 
from a creativity perspective, a case study was therefore seen as a relevant approach to gain rich 
information and good insights regarding designers’ needs. The case study was conducted at 
a company working with product development for space applications (
Table 1
), and included 
eight interviews with experienced designers who are relatively inexperienced with AM. Insights 
from designers being relatively new to AM was seen to bring rich information of insecurities, 
expectations and limitations that need to be considered in creativity management. In addition to the 
interviews, steering documents on general product development at the case company was studied to 
bring insights on how respondents referred to product development within the company. This 
contributed with a higher degree of understanding between respondent and interviewers during 
discussions.
3.2.1. Sampling
The case company was chosen due to (1) their established expertise on product development for 
space applications and (2) recently started explorations of how AM might be used in their designs. 
Table 1. 
Information about the case company.
Company description
Size of company
The company is developing complex and high-performance components for the aerospace sector. The 
studied part of the company focuses on products designed for space applications, such as nozzles or 
sub-system components for launcher applications.
Approximately 
18,000
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Respondents for the interviews were chosen from a pool of 60 designers working with product 
development for space applications. Eight respondents were selected based on their leading roles 
and experience in product development in the company (
Table 2
) and due to their connection to 
projects starting to involve DfAM.