definitions Flashcards
usability
making the product and systems easier to use and matching them more closely to user needs and requirements
ergonomics
the study of the interaction between people and products, and the application of theory, principles data and methods to the design of the products to endure maximum usability and efficiency
anthropometrics
the study of the sizes of the human body
percentiles
a means of representing anthropometric data statistically, indicating the sizes of the human body or specific percentage of people
throw away society
the collective mindset of consumers to dispose of products before they have reached the end of their life, simply to purchase updated or more fashionable versions
intuitive design
the design works the way the user would expect it to
user experience design
the process of enhancing user satisfaction with a product
done by improving the usability, accessibility and pleasure provided in the interaction with the product
user interface design/engineering
the design of the user interfaces for machines and software, with the focus on usability and user experience
bespoke
a product that has been made specifically for an individual customer
ethical design
considering the impact of a product and whether it is morally correct to produce it
human factors
study of how humans behave physically and psychologically in relation to particular products
inbound marketing
the methods a designer or company uses to establish whether there is a need or gap in the market for a proposal idea
inclusive design
designing products that are accessible to everyone without making changes or adaptations
marketing mix
the best blend of marketing methods, dependent on the type of product and specific target market
outbound marketing
how the customer ‘finds’ the product. for example, through a search engine
planned obsolescence
the process of designing products to go out of fashion or no longer function after a specific period of time
penetration marketing
setting a low price for its product to attempt to market market share (as many customers as possible)
price skimming
setting a price high after launching a product to quickly recover expenditures for production and advertising
primary research
collection, collation and editing of readily available research/information
trend forecasters
people employed to predict the mood, behaviour and buying habits of the consumer
standardised components
parts usually produced in high volumes to the same specification and quality
product lifecycle
the marketing lifecycle from launch through to decline of a product (not the same as life cycle assessment)
biopolymers
polymers in which all carbon is derived from renewable feedstocks, including corn, potatoes, rice and wood cellulose
ecological footprint
the impact we have on the environment and natural resources
internet of things (IoT)
the internet of physical devices, buildings and other items embedded with electronics and software that allows objects to collect and exchange data
life cycle assessment (LCA)
an assessment of all stages of a product’s life from raw material to disposal
mechanical properties
characteristics that indicate the behaviour of a material under pressure (force) which determine the range of usefulness of the product.
These can include:
- brittleness
- flexibility
- ductility
- toughness
- tensile strength
social footprint
the impact we have on other people