Design/innovation

Question 1

describe types of primary and secondary research

Answer 1

primary
* interviews - provide detailed info, more difficult to analyse results
* focus group - ask open-ended questions, in-depth feedback, people may be influenced by others to answer differently
* questionnaire
* experiment
secondary
* using internet - look up data (eg sales figures), less reliable as data doesn’t come from a direct source
* using other market research reports
* government reports/studies

Question 2

describe ways to ensure a product is ergonomic

Answer 2

ergonomics - designing a product so it’s comfortable+ easy to use
* size+proportion - clothes need various sizes, adjustable products eg hoodie strings, large enough calc buttons
* target market - chair for a child must be a diff size for an adult
* using anthropometric data - body measurements to ensure product is right size+shape

Question 3

define knock-down fittings +examples (4)

Answer 3

• temporary fittings for cheap flat-pack furniture
• allows furniture to be assembled+taken apart easily
• CAM locks, single/two-piece blocks, scan fittings, dowels

Question 4

suggest social factors to consider when designing products (furniture)

Answer 4

• safety - around kids
• sourcing of materials - sustainable, fairtrade, FSC
• fair pay for farmers/workers - fairtrade
• appeal to a wider market - provide more choice+ fast service
• suited to disabled/elderly (mobile phones)
• not cause offence to religious groups -misuse of religious symbols

Question 5

suggest economic factors to consider when designing products (furniture)

Answer 5

• cost of materials/ labour
• ensuring product sells for a profit

Question 6

name design strategies (3)

Answer 6

• systems approach: breaking design process into stages+ doing each in turn
• user-centred: wants+needs of user are prioritised, their thoughts are considered at each stage of design
• iterative: constant evaluation+improvement until all problems fixed, uses feedback from users/clients/experts

Question 7

describe the benefits of working with users/clients/experts during the design process

Answer 7

• client: ensures it meets their expectations, allows them to give feedback early on to improve
• user: feedback from potential users in the target market, fused to make improvements so final product is more appealing to market
• expert: benefit from experience of professionals who suggest improvements to make product more suitable to function/ cheaper/ appealing to market

Question 8

evaluate suitability of flat-pack furniture for consumers

Question 9

evaluate suitability of flat-pack furniture for retail stores

Question 10

evaluate suitability of flat-pack furniture for transportation companies