Summary Points Flashcards
Design Theory and Practice
- Design forms an integral part of many occupations
- We can all contribute to the concept of good design
- Design begins with a need, opportunity or problem
- Design is about the application of process
- Collaboration may lead to an improvement in a design
Design and Production Processes in Domestic, Community, Industry and Commercial Settings
- Design process covers the initial contact with a client or development of an idea through to a final product.
- The production process begins once the design idea is finalised.
- Effective production must involve a schedule. A number of tools, techniques, and production processes are used.
- Production settings are divided up into three sectors:
a) Domestic settings: small-scale or one-off production.
b) Community settings: small community or interest groups developing a company/ cooperative for the common good
of the local people or interested parties within the local community.
c) Industrial settings: large-scale production, using a large number of people in the production process and a variety of manufacturing techniques and machinery.
The Impact of Design and Technology Activities on the Individual, Society and the Environment
- All products, systems and environments impact on the individual, society and the environment throughout the production and design stage.
- Factors such as personal values, cultural beliefs, sustainability, safety and health, community needs, individual
needs and equity all impact the way in which a product, system or environment is designed and produced.
- We must all work towards using ecologically friendly devices in the home, school and workplace.
- Industries must work towards reducing their impact on the environment.
Investigating and Experimenting With Techniques
- Designers use a range of thinking strategies to enhance their creativity.
- When faced with problems to solve, it is best to plan a series of steps that will lead to a solution.
- Collaboration in design supports input from a range of sources.
- Communication between team members and clear goals are essential for effective team design.
Using Design Processes
- When formulating and analysing design briefs, it is important to consider all the parameters and look at any initial opportunities that may exist. Conduct thorough market research to find a gap in the market, with the ultimate aim of identifying a target market.
- Market research assists in identifying that ‘gap’ in the market or degree of difference needed to formulate a design brief.
- Parameters are the list of specifications that a design must possess in order for it to be considered successful.
Danish architect Jørn Utzon needed to address these parameters in his design of the Sydney Opera House.
- Primary research is done by the person working on the project. Some collection methods include surveys, interviews and observations.
- Secondary research uses data already collected by others. Sources of secondary research include books, the
internet and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
- When researching existing competition, consider using the five Ps: product, price, promotion and place.
- There are two different types of environmental forces that may impact on the success of a product, micro-environmental and macro-environmental forces.
Using Resources Effectively and Safely
- Tools, materials and techniques should be thoroughly investigated. The information collected from this research will assist in the selection of what is deemed the most ‘appropriate’ techniques and materials.
- Adequate documentation and justification will enable others to understand the selection of the resources used. This is important if designers are working in teams.
• When manufacturing there are two main considerations in developing proficiency. The first and most important is
safety. The second is the production of a quality product.
• Risk assessments assist manufacturers to ensure safe working environments by providing an analysis of the
processes that are to be undertaken. The processes are assessed for potential hazards, the severity of the risk taken and the likelihood of it occurring. After analysing these processes, manufacturers can introduce controls to minimise these risks.
• Legislation requires the implementation of safe working conditions.
Evaluating the Processes and Outcomes of Designing and Producing
- Parameters are welcome boundaries or design constraints that a design must adhere to in order to be considered successful.
- You can set your own design parameters. They don’t all have to be ‘inherited’.
- Functional criteria are statements detailing how the project must operate.
- Aesthetic criteria are statements detailing how the project must look. This may include choice of materials, style, texture, colours and so on.
• Before undertaking the design and construction of any design project, have a look at existing designs of similar
products. Research books, magazines, the internet and talk to experts to determine which processes are the most appropriate and which features are the most important.
- Design projects can impact on individuals, society and the environment in both positive and negative ways.
- Use your criteria to evaluate success as a checklist.
- Evaluate on a continual basis. Remember you have to justify every decision you have made.
Management Techniques and Tools
- Good project management is essential in any design project
- Designers need to be aware of the techniques and tools available to assist in project management
- It is important to meet with the client to clarify values and set goals
- Documentation of plans, tasks and finances assists the process of design
- Evaluation occurs throughout a project as decisions are made about design, materials, costs etc.
Communicating Ideas and Solutions
- Designers need to develop clarity in all forms of communication and fully understand the different forms of communication, including verbal, non-verbal, written, graphical, visual and audio.
- As a designer, you need to be aware of the elements of communication, in particular, the roles of senders and receivers.
- Designers need to develop a range of graphical techniques, including freehand sketching, 3D drawing, shading and rendering and the visualisation of ideas.
- As a designer, you will be required to understand and use the relevant industry terminology, such as the names of materials, processes and techniques.
• Designers must develop sound techniques in the use of a wide range of media, which vary from sketching tools,
resistant materials, computer technology and tools and techniques.
- Designs today are generally visualised using computer aided drawing (CAD).
- Designers sketch and modify ideas and thoughts on screen, where previously new sketches needed to be drawn up for each modification.
• Prototypes or concept models are often produced as part of the design process to give the designer valuable
information about the intended design.
- Drawing standards, such as the British or American Standards, are rules that govern the way technical drawings are drawn. The symbols and conventions used are applied across the world so that products can be designed in one country and manufactured in different countries.
- Orthographic drawing is the technique of representing lines, surfaces, or solids in plane drawings using orthographic projection.
- Design portfolios are vital for documentation and presentation of the final design project. The portfolio should ‘tell a story’ about all aspects of the project, from the initial problem through to the completed product, displaying sketches, photos, research materials, evaluations and so on.
Research methods in the development and modification of design ideas
• It is important that a designer is able to use a variety of research methods which may include questionnaires,
interviews, observations and experiments.
- Qualitative research does not provide numerical results, while quantitative research will provide numerical results.
- All research results should be carefully analysed and the findings clearly communicated.
- Charts and graphs make it easier to interpret research findings.
- Texts and experiments are useful research tools when determining the most appropriate material for your project.
- Authenticity and currency should be considered when obtaining research material from the internet.
- As a researcher you should behave ethically towards your participants and readers.
Investigating manufacturing and production processes
• When designing and making products at school, the processes can be limited by the availability of resources,
technology and your skills. When you design products, you should endeavour to fully utilise the facilities within your school, your own skills and the time available for the project.
- Society expects manufacturing to be sustainable and environmentally appropriate; to use minimal resources and produce minimal waste products and environmental harm.
- The process used to manufacture a product as a result of a design process must be appropriate to the needs of the designer, producer, consumer and society.
- While students cannot be expected to follow industrial or commercial processes exactly, it is important that you build a thorough understanding of industry and use this knowledge to inform decision making throughout the design and realisation of your own projects.
- The aim of every Design and Technology student should be to excel and produce faultless work. Factors such as time, cost, availability of resources and skill development can all hinder the pursuit of excellence.
Computer-based technologies in designing and producing
- Just like in industry, students can complete their research, presentation ideas and production of plans with greater efficiency and to a higher standard than ever before by appropriately using computer technologies.
- The use of Computer Aided Design (CAD) and computer modelling has enabled designers to easily identify more appropriate designs and can allow designers to see their work, as it would be in the colours and textures of the finished product, at various stages in the design process.
- As a Design and Technology student, you must understand and use the processes of designing and making. You also need to evaluate and describe the processes you followed to the person who will be assessing your work
