Designing and making principles textbook: Section 6 Designing principles, chapter 42 - primary and secondary data - types and methods of research - ergonomics and anthropometrics - design brief, design and manufacturing specs and their criteria
why is it important to constantly collect info?
helps to meet client needs and design brief, use feedback to improve design
what are the 2 main types of data source?
primary and secondary
primary data
info collected by those needing the data (us) for a specific purpose
examples of primary data sources
interviews, surveys, analysis, observations, focus groups, testing
advantages of using primary data
data is relevent, recent and investigations can be adapted to specific needs
disadvantages of using primary data
lots of people are needed to collect data and it is time consuming
secondary data
info previously collected and compiled by others
examples of secondary data sources
articles, books, statistics, media, reports
advantages of using secondary data
lots of data freely available and already collated
disadvantages of using secondary data
data is not unique as it is available publicly and may not be specific or updated
market research
gathering info on the target audience and existing products
why is market research beneficial?
helps to identify gaps in the market that you could fill
what should be considered during product analysis?
function, form, ergonomics, aesthetics, materials, cost and retail price, sustainability, feedback, manufacturing process
focus group
a group of people consulted throughout the design process to share feedback
designer can observe body language and reactions as feedback too
ergonomics
the science of humans' interactions with objects, relating to comfort, function, aesthetic appeal etc.
anthropometrics
physical measurements of the human body
examples of anthropometric measurements
height, weight, lengths of limbs, angles of reach
key considerations for data presentation
- only include relevant data (if it is conclusive or leads to further research)
- clear, logical format
- label visual parts to make key factors noticeable
- use primary data wherever possible
qualitative data
thoughts, opinions, in words
quantitative data
numerical or measurable, can be used in statistics
design brief
a written summary identifying a problem, criteria and constraints of a design
what should a design brief include? (4)
- product and its purpose
- where and when it'll be used
- target audience
- budget and timescale
consider 5Ws and be vague, not too specific
design specification
detailed requirements for a product to be successful
what should be included in a design spec? (10)
- aesthetics
- function (purpose and how it works)
- materials
- target market (user and how their needs are addressed)
- cost and budget
- time restraints
- dimensions and other measurements
- environmental considerations (sustainability)
- viability in the market
- safety
why might a design brief need modifications?
after research, analysis and testing, designers may find that there are errors or certain parts aren't suitable, so need to adjust things
manufacturing specification
document detailing all info needed to manufacture a product, including technical drawings, CAD models, flowcharts and time plans
what should a manufacturing spec include?
- assembly (components and how they're put together)
- annotations to explain elements
- equipment needed
- materials needed
- quantities of components and materials and batch numbers
- dimensions wuth units
- quality control checks
environmental considerations
- making products from recycled materials and recyclable
- avoiding use of rare/limited resources
- reducing energy consumption
- considering disposal of product and packagaing
social and economic considerations
- workforce conditions
- employee salaries
- fairtrade
percentile graphs
show the majority to find the average proportion