1.3.1. Product/Service Design Flashcards
What are the areas of the design mix?
Function, aesthetics and cost.
What are some methods of reacting to consumer trends?
- creating new products/services
- innovating existing products to make them more appealing
- introducing an existing product to a new market
What are some factors which may mean businesses have to change to reflect social trends?
- sustainability
- ethics
- health
- technology
- government
- business objectives
- USP
How has ‘sustainability’ affected social trends?
Consumers (and the government) expect sustainability. Many firms have led the way in terms of waste reduction, reuse and recycling by starting/joining schemes that give back to the planet.
How has ‘ethics’ affected social trends?
In today’s digital world it is very easy for customers to find out if a business is ethical or not, and many firms now promote the fact that they use suppliers that pay fair wages or have stopped animal cruelty in their practices.
How has ‘health’ affected social trends?
Customer demand has changed over time to be more focused on healthier products. An example is organic products, which used to be niche items but are now available in most major chain supermarkets.
How has ‘technology’ affected social trends?
Technological advancement has the power to influence how firms do business and the expectations we have as consumers. e.g. shopping online, home delivery, online TV
How has the ‘Government’ affected social trends?
Legislation has created legal requirements for companies to behave more responsibly. e.g. equal employment policies and the reaction to climate change
How do ‘business objectives’ affect how businesses respond to social trends?
Every objective needs its own working design mix, for example, for survival, a business might cut costs, and to become a market leader, it may need to focus on innovation and creating a USP.
What is a USP?
‘Unique Selling Point’ - any feature that makes a product appear different from it’s rivals. Some UPS’s are created through intense research and development, while others come out of external market research.
