Cultural and Ethical Factors

Question 1

How can the use of some timbers seem offensive?

Answer 1

• If products materials seem offensive, it will not sell.
• For example, the use of exotic, hardwood or timbers which are near extinction (such as ebony) can be offensive as they may come from unsustainable sources, due to the amount of time it takes for them to grow.

Question 2

Why is it important to make your product suitable for the intended market?

Answer 2

• Because it will need to be suitable for the age or needs of the user.
• For example, beech is a close-grained hardwood that does not splinter, making it ideal for children’s toys.

Question 3

How is the consumer society negative?

Answer 3

• Many people feel the need to have the most up-to-date, fashionable furniture due to being a consumer society.
• This creates an ever-increasing demand, but also leads to an increase in unwanted products and products which are not needed.
• This is negative in an environmental viewpoint, as some people believe as a society we are unnecessarily using up limited resources too quickly and damaging our environment.

Question 4

Evaluate the effects of mass production?

Answer 4

• Products such as furniture used to be made 1 at a time
• Now products, such as flat-packed furniture can be mass products using CNC machinery.
• Mass production and automation can make products more affordable to a larger audience
• However, the use of machinery to replace jobs causes unemployment. Alternatively, some may argue that the use of automation can create more employment, as people need to be employed to maintain the machinery.

Question 5

What is another name for planned obsolescence?

Answer 5

built-in obsolescence

Question 6

Define planned/built-in obsolescence

Answer 6

• The deliberate ensuring that products have parts that will fail and cannot be repaired.
• This is done to ensure that people would buy products more often. However is not environmentally friendly, unnecessarily using up limited resources too quickly and damaging our environment.
• Using veneered manufactured boards, is an example of planned obsolescence, as it tends not to be as durable as solid timber. The surfaces may wear through or edges may chip. This can make this type of furniture obsolete within a few years.