Design & Technology

Design Brief

A written document for a design project developed in concert by a person representing the business need for design and the designer.

Niche Market

The product features aimed at satisfying specific market needs, as well as the price range, production quality and the demographics that is intended to impact.

Obsolescence

The condition of no longer being used or useful .

Customised products/customisation

The process of delivering wide-market goods and services that are modified to satisfy a specific customer need.

Prosthetic

An artificial device used to replace a missing body part, such as a limb, tooth, eye, or heart valve.

Bionic

Having or denoting an artificial, typically electromechanical, body part or parts.

State-of-the-art

The most recent stage in the development of a product, incorporating the newest ideas and features.

Emerging technologies

Technical innovations which represent progressive developments within a field for competitive advantage.

Design modification

An adjustment made to an existing product, usually made for greater appeal or functionality.

Product life span

The product life cycle is the period of time over which an item is developed, brought to market and eventually removed from the market.

Material inputs

Can be used to measure eco-efficiency of a product or service and applied in all scales from a single product to complex systems.

Environmental outputs

Modification

An adjustment made to an existing product, usually made for greater appeal or functionality.

3D printing

The building of physical models, directly from computer aided design (CAD) data.

Action plan

A list of tasks that need to be completed as part of a project.

Adorn

Make beautiful.

Aesthetics

How something looks, particularly how visually pleasing it is.

Algorithm

A set of steps used to solve a calculation or problem.

Appropriate

Suitable for an occasion or use.

Automation

Mechanical controlling of machinery for speed and accuracy.

Biodegradable

Able to decay naturally and harmlessly.

Biofuel

Fuel derived from biomass (recently living organisms or their metabolic by-products, such as manure.

Blog

A regularly updated website used to cover a single subject.

Chassis

The base frame of a car.

Collaboration

Working together with others on a project for a common goal.

Computer-aided design (CAD)

An automated system for the design, drafting and display of graphic information.

Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM)

A computer program that makes manufacturing data from CAD drawings to automate the manufacture of a product by a computer-controlled machine.

Computer numerical control (CNC)

The computer control of machine tools for the purpose of (repetitively) manufacturing complex parts for a product.

Concept board

A cognitive organiser used to clarify the aspects of the concept that will be important to the final design.

Constraint

A limitation or control that must be followed.

Control measures

A set of guidelines or rules to maintain certain standards and consistency.

Convergence

The movement of different technologies towards a unified, common use.

Copyright

Legal rights of artistic ownership and integrity, represented by the cymbal (c) .

Cradle-to-cradle analysis

Design of products that do not generate waste or landfill at the end of their useful life, but that can be reused and recycled into new products.

Creditable

Valid and reliable.

Criteria

A list of requirements and specifications.

Cumulative

Increasing by a series of additions.

Custom products

Products produced manually by an experienced, highly skilled and qualified labourer.

Cyclic process

A continuous process, where particular states occur again and again.

Demographic

A section of the population grouped according to common common characteristics such as age, income or gender.

Design for disassembly

Design for products that can be easily disassembled, separated and sorted for reuse or recycling a the end of their usable life.

Deviate

To move away from an established route.

Drivelines

Everything in the powertrain excluding the engine and transmission.

Drone

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

Durability

The ability of a product to repeatedly perform its designed function for an acceptable period of time without failure; to be long-lasting.

Dynamic

Able to adjust and change in response to changes.

Efficiency

Ratio of output or work done to energy used or input supplied.

Emulate

Attempt to equal or surpass through imitation.

Entrepreneur

A person who sets up and manages new commercial enterprises to make a profit.

Entrepreneurial activity

Making ideas for products or businesses into productive and profitable businesses.

Environment

The total of surrounding things, conditions or influences; especially the combination of external physical conditions that affect and influence our growth, development and survival.

Environmental sustainability

The practice of making responsible decisions that will reduce negative impact on the environment.

Ergonomics

The science of designing machines, products and systems to maximise the safety, comfort and efficiency of the people who use them (and minimise harm or physical damage).

Ethics

A system of accepted beliefs that control behaviour, especially one based on morals.

Facia

The dashboard area of a motor vehicle.

Finance plan

A detailed report of the resources used in a project with costs applied.

Function

The action or use for which something has been designed.

Gantt chart

A detailed grid that displays the tasks to be undertaken and time allocated, and maps these on a specified timeline.

Global warming

Increases in the average land and sea temperatures on Earth.

Globalisation

The ongoing process of integrating economies, societies and cultures through global networks.

Graphical

Relating to visual art.

Greenhouse effect

The gradual warming of the Earth's surface caused by an increase if gases in the atmosphere (caused by human activity).

Hazard

Anything that can potentially cause harm or loss.

Holistic

An approach that emphasises the importance of the whole.

Hypothesis

A supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation.

Iconic

Represented as worthy of celebration and great respect.

Industrial Revolution

The transition to new large-scale manufacturing; paved the way for mass production.

Innovation

Using an existing material or technology for a completely different purpose or to develop a new material or technology; something new or unprecedented in a market or society.

Intellectual

Property recognises ownership of a product of the intellect that has commercial value, including copyrighted property such as literary or artistic works, patents, business methods and industrial processes.

Jarrah

A durable hardwood from eucalyptus trees.

Lateral thinking

Using creative or unexpected thinking to solve problems.

Lathe

A machine used for cutting and working wood or metal that spins the material against a cutting tool.

Legible

Clear and easy to decipher.

Legislate

To create, provide or enact laws.

Mass production

The manufacture of goods on a large scale, usually on an assembly line.

Material safety data sheet (MSDS)

Describes the identity, relevant hazard information, precautions for use and safe handling of a hazardous substance.

Milestone

A significant developmental stage or point determined by the designer and allocated a specific date for completion.

Misconception

An incorrect idea or assumption.

Needs analysis

In-depth exploration of the needs and wants of the target market; used to establish a genuine need or opportunity and ensure that the design solution is in response to that need.

Niche

A gap in the market; a small, specialised group of consumers for whom no adequate product exists.

Occupational overuse syndrome (OOS)

A range of conditions, including injury to, or discomfort or pain in muscles or soft tissue.

Orthographic

The drawing technique of representing lines, surfaces or solids in one or more imaginary planes that are at right angles to one another.

Parameter

A limit or boundary that defines work.

Patent

A legal document granted by the government that gives an inventor exclusive rights to make, use and sell an invention (for a specified period).

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

A device or appliance designed to be worn individually to protect the user against potential hazards.

Podcast

A digital audio file available to download from the internet.

Powertrain

The mechanism that transmits the drive from the engine of a vehicle to its axle.

Prerequisite

A prior condition or thing needed before something else can happen.

Primary function

The main purpose for which a product is selected by a customer.

Primary research

Research conducted by going directly to the source, such as interviewing, experimenting, and collecting and analysing statistics.

Proficiency

A high degree of skill or expertise.

Prohibertive

Of a price high enough to prevent something being used or purchased.

Prosthesis

An artificial device used to replace a missing body part.

Prototype

The preliminary version of a product or design from which other versions are developed.

Secondary function

Additional features that make a product different and preferred to competition products.

Secondary research

Facts or data obtained from other than the original source, such as books, other people's reports or the internet.

Sequential

Happening in a logical order or sequence.

Specifications

Detailed instructions on how something should be done or produced.

Standardisation

The process of establishing a technical standard to ensure compatibility of production assemblies.

Statutory authority

An organisation established under an Act for a public purpose.