3.3.1 Investigation, primary & secondary data - AQA GCSE DT

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