Diploma Programme Design Technology Glossary of Terms

This is a set of flashcards containing key vocabulary from the Diploma Programme Design Technology glossary, designed to aid understanding and retention of essential terms and definitions related to the subject.

Adjustability

The ability of a product to be changed in size, commonly used to increase the range of percentiles that a product is appropriate for.

Anthropometrics

The aspect of ergonomics that deals with body measurements, particularly those of size, strength and physical capacity.

Cognitive ergonomics

How mental processes, (memory, reasoning, motor response and perception), affect the interactions between users and other components of a system.

Ergonomics

The application of scientific information concerning the relationship between human beings and the design of products, systems and environments.

Fatigue

A person's sense of physical or psychological tiredness.

Nominal data scale

Nominal means 'by name' and used in classification or division of objects into discrete groups.

Primary data

Data collected by a user for a specific purpose.

Qualitative data

Typically descriptive data used to find out in depth the way people think or feel - their perception.

Sustainability

The ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level; in design, this often refers to reducing environmental impact.

User-centred design (UCD)

A design process that pays particular attention to the needs of potential users of a product by involving them in all stages of the design process.

Prototype testing session

A session where a test product is made and tested before the final product is made.

Circular economy

An economy model in which resources remain in use for as long as possible, and products and materials are recovered and regenerated at the end of the product life cycle.

Cradle to grave

A design philosophy that considers the environmental effects of a product all of the way from manufacture to disposal.

Lean production

A long-term production strategy that focuses on continual feedback and incremental improvement.

Market penetration

Increasing sales to existing customers or finding new customers for an existing product.