The Design Process Flashcards
Design problem
Identify a problem that needs to be solved
Normally presented by a client
Design brief
Details of what needs to be designed
Set by the client
States the following: Function Materials Aesthetics Quality Other constraints
Specification
Expands on the design brief
Includes all the factors that may influence the design including the weird ones: X Product maintenance X Packaging X Manufacturing facilities X Government legislation X Environmental impact X Patents
Spec is referred to When designing and evaluating
Analysis
Designers analyse problem and brief
Identify what they need to reaearch
- unfamiliar technology
- materials
Research plans are drawn in detail
- what needs to be researched
- how to obtain the information
Purpose of research
Ensures products are designed, developed and manufactured successfully
Purpose of market research and the different ways of carrying out market research
Products are designed for a market so can sell
surveys
- personal interviews
- group interviews
- telephone interviews
- internet surveys
- postal questionnaire
What results are obtained from market research?
- produce quantatative data
- identify trends
- highlights consumer spending habits
information stored on a database
Allow designer to focus on a target market and draw up a spec
What is the purpose of user centred research?
User-centred research
Helps identify the need for a new product and specific features that consumers want in the product
Types of user-centred research?
observation of people in their own environment
observation of people in a useability lab
body storming
How are observation of people in their own environment carried out?
What are the results obtained from this test?
designers watch people using products
noting difficulties/possible improvements
How are observation of people in a useability lab carried out?
What results are provided?
X use typical target-market users
X make them use and evaluate range of
products
X provide worksheet to prompt required
testing
carried out in a controlled environment
video/audio record and analysed in detail later
identifies weakness in a design
identifies popular features
How is body storming carried out?
What results are obtained?
Type of role playing
X act out process of using particular product
X using full size prototype
experience problems first hand
may use wheelchairs/ body suits that restrict movement and mimic disability to test the product
What other forms of research are there?
What is the purpose of each of these methods?
Analysing existing products
X Find out about useful materials/mechanism
X Test/disassemble existing products
Database research
X materials and components
X To review properties/costs
Testing materials
X Assess suitability for the product
X To review properties/costs
Generation of ideas
sketches and ideas are drawn and evaluated
Initial designs are developed
Some concepts drawn with CAD and rendered
Show clients for evaluation
Development
Select suitable design idea
Developed into a finished solution
Include alternative ways the product could be manufactured
Consider
X Aesthetics
X Ergonomics
