Digital Design Validation: Seeing Real-World Parts Virtually and Accurately

Digital design validation—or digital DVAC as we call it at Rivian (more commonly known as AAR in industry)—is a process during which defective injection-molded plastic parts are analyzed, textured, and visualized to real-world accuracy to set expectations throughout the design cycle. Implemented early in the design process, digital DVAC allows visually problematic parts to be caught and fixed before any production tools or prototype parts have been produced, significantly saving cost and development times. This process further enables designers and engineers to work together to reduce the visibility of such defects through either design-based texture changes or part geometry fixes, improving the overall perceived quality and craftsmanship of the end product.