1.8 The Requirements for Product Design and Development

Question 1

Who is Stuart Pugh?

Answer 1

He is a highly influential design engineer and founder of the term ‘total design’, which refers to the PDS as the key document that is used throughout all subsequent design activities.

Question 2

What are the Pugh’s plates? (12)

Answer 2

1 environment
2 testing
3 safety
4 product life span
5 materials
6 ergonomics
7 aesthetics
8 performance
9 product cost
10 time scale
11 size and weight
12 maintenance

Question 3

Why is David Pye significant within design?

Answer 3

He has a quote that refers to the fact that designers must assess and improve upon what has come before to avoid making the same mistakes. Designers must be willing to accept that they will never fully solve a problem, but can only devise a temporary solution that, with current technology and knowledge, addresses the specification they were given.

Question 4

What are the 9 aspects of a design that you should analyse on current products before designing a new product? (Critical analysis)

Answer 4

1 product analysis
2 function (perceived)
3 task analysis
4 ergonomics
5 aesthetics
6 materials
7 manufacture/process
8 scale of production
9 environmental impact

Question 5

When analysing current products, how you perform product analysis?

Answer 5

An effective product analysis can only be completed on a product that you have direct access to, so you can interact with it. You can only assess how well a product succeeds in performing its perceived function if you have used it for the task it was designed to fulfill.

Question 6

When analysing current products, how you analyse the function (perceived)?

Answer 6

To analyse the function of a product, you must perform a task analysis, using the product and assessing its success in performing each stage of the task

Question 7

When analysing current products, how you perform the task analysis?

Answer 7

The idea of a task analysis is to break a specific task down into individual stages. We often forget to include what we would regard as ‘common sense’ or obvious stages in the task. By breaking the task down further, we can look more closely at how a product is suited to a particular task and if there are any elements that may be improved.

Question 8

When analysing current products, how you analyse the ergonomics?

Answer 8

You must consider how the user interacts with the product

Question 9

When analysing current products, how you analyse the aesthetics?

Answer 9

You should be factual and avoid using subjective generalisations such as ‘it looks good’. The use of geometric or natural forms and the design inspiration for the product should be referred to, considering the aim of the designer and possible designers or movements that may have influenced the product.

Question 10

When analysing current products, how you analyse the materials?

Answer 10

The choice of specific materials within a product is dependent on key mechanical and physical properties and whether the design has compromised on material selection for other reasons. The material selected may also be influenced by the method of manufacture and the scale of production

Question 11

When analysing current products, how you analyse the manufacture/process?

Answer 11

The manufacture of each component within the product should be assessed. Consider how the components have been assembled and in what order.

Question 12

When analysing current products, how you analyse the scale of production?

Answer 12

The number of products produced has a huge impact o the method of manufacture and materials used. You should consider the suitability of the processes used and why they are appropriate.

Question 13

When analysing current products, how you analyse the environment impact?

Answer 13

You should evaluate the impact of the product on the environment - whether this is in the extraction of raw materials, the use of the product or what happens to the product at the end of its life.

Question 14

What is meant by user-centred design?

Answer 14

The concept of USD is that all products we design should be focused around the end user and the potential end user should be involved at all stages of the design process to guide the product’s development. the reality is that the degree of end user involvement varies greatly within design.

Question 15

What does USD stand for?

Answer 15

User-centred design

Question 16

What are the advantages of completing initial concepts?

Answer 16

Initial 2D or 3D sketch modelling can be used to gain feedback from clients prior to investment in physical prototypes. These sketches serve a clear purpose early in the design process; however, the feedback from a client is mainly restricted to comments on the form/aesthetics.

Question 17

Why do designers use block modelling?

Answer 17

After sketch modelling, designers may progress into block modelling concepts to prove theories on mechanisms or show ergonomics features of design in a physical form. The use of lightweight compliant materials such as Styrofoam allows simple shaping of 3D forms using hand tools, but when moving parts are required, more resistant materials may need to be included to test reaction to forces.

Question 18

What is the purpose of visual appearance models?

Answer 18

They are used to demonstrate the aesthetic form and appearance of the design concept. The model is not usually made from the same materials as the final product because it will be a one-off product so investment in complex moulding equipment would not be appropriate.

Question 19

What is the purpose of using working prototypes?

Answer 19

Working prototypes are used to test mechanisms and technical principles. They do not often resemble the final product and may be constructed from a range of materials and components; mechanisms can be adjusted with temporary fixings to finalise dimensions and movements.

Question 20

What is the purpose of rapid prototyping?

Answer 20

Due to the increased availability of rapid prototyping technology, there 3D block models are often created from 3D CAD models, which can be ‘printed’ in a wide range of materials including thermosetting polymers and resins. These CAD models can be tested prior to printing of the model and, once saved, can be replicated several times following feedback from focus groups. This gives a range of iterations for the same product in a fraction of the time required to produce the same number of hand-made iterations.

Question 21

What does aesthetics mean?

Answer 21

It refers to the features of a product that make is visually appealing. The appearance is affected by shape/form, size and proportion, colour and texture.

Question 22

What does anthropomorphism mean?

Answer 22

The use of anthropomorphism within a product design refers to the design of products that reflect proportions associated withe the human body and face.

Question 23

What is analogous colour combination?

Answer 23

Combining colours that are next to each other on the colour wheel

Question 24

What does ergonomics mean?

Answer 24

It is defined as the scientific study of people and their working conditions

Question 25

What are the 7 factors we should take into account when considering the ergonomics of a design?

Answer 25

1 range of sizes of possible users (anthropometric data)
2 range of differing abilities displayed by possible users (concerning all sense)
3 movements and forces used in relation to the product
4 shape and form of the areas that a user will interact with
5 use of appropriate materials for the product
6 use of appropriate colour schemes
7 use of appropriate symbols on the product.

Question 26

What are the 9 guidelines for control design?

Answer 26

1 Users should not have to move unnecessarily to reach any controls.
2 All controls should be easy to grip to reduce the strain put on joints from bending fingers and hands. This may mean making grips larger.
3 Control surfaces should prompt increased grip. This may be done through the inclusion of elastomer overmouldings or in mould texture application.
4 Controls should be easy to access and operate; this means that although creating flush surface improves aesthetics, users may not be able to locate the control in the dark.
5 The pressure required for operation of controls must be considered and optimised for the task and user.
6 Varying shapes and sizes of controls mean that identification can be made by touch.
7 Large, clear labels of a contrasting colour to the background are easier to see.
8 Tactile markings need to be easy to locate, so as to guide the partially sighted and blind people.
9 Important information should be shown in different ways; wherever possible, a variety of sounds, symbols, lights and textures should be used.

Question 27

What is anthropometrics?

Answer 27

The use of scientific measurements of the human body on the design and construction of a product.

Question 28

What is inclusive design?

Answer 28

The design of products that area accessible to, and usable by, as many people as reasonably possible without the need for special adaptation or specialised design. It incorporates the concept of UCD and means designing a product suitable for the widest number of people, taking into account variables such as user size, age, gender, background and ability.

Question 29

What is meant by empathic design?

Answer 29

Within the idea of empathetic design, the designer is encouraged to take part in task analysis while emulating possible restrictions faced by the user.