all terms of the IBDP Design HL glossary (certain terms are split apart, such as Datschefski's Principles of Sustainable Design).
Bottom-up strategies
At its most basic, this is the piecing together of components or systems in order to give rise to a more complex system or product. From a corporate strategy perspective, this methodology means that the leadership level will determine the overall goals, but the workforce will assist in developing the mechanisms and ideas to meet that goal.
Datschefski's five principles of sustainable design
Five principles that facilitate a holistic approach to sustainable design: Cyclic; Solar; Safe; Efficient; Social.
Decoupling
Disconnecting two trends so that one no longer depends on the other. Through the act of decoupling (using resources more productively and redesigning production systems), it is technically possible to deliver the same or equivalent goods and services with lower environmental impact while maintaining social and equity benefits.
Eco-champion
Individuals or groups that champion environmental issues within organizations.
Eco-fan
Individuals or groups that enthusiastically adopt environmentally friendly practices as consumers.
Eco-labelling
The labelling of products to demonstrate that they are better for the environment than other products.
Eco-phobe
Individuals or groups that actively resent talk of environmental protection.
Eco-warrior
Individuals or groups that actively demonstrate on environmental issues.
Energy labelling
The labelling of products to show how energy efficient they are. The label displays information in four categories: the product's details; Energy classification that shows the product's electrical consumption; Measurements relating to consumption, efficiency and capacity etc.; Noise emitted from the product when in use.
Energy security
The uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price.
Ethical consumerism
The practice of consciously purchasing products and services produced in a way that minimises social and environmental damage, while avoiding those that have a negative impact on society and the environment.
Lifestyle consumerism
A social and economic order and ideology that encourages the acquisition of goods and services in ever greater amounts.
Macro energy sustainability
Involves large scale energy generation from non-exhaustive sources for international, national or large community use. Examples include hydroelectric power, wind, wave and geothermal energy generation.
Micro energy sustainability
Involves small scale energy generation sustainability from non-exhaustive sources for individual, household or small community use. Examples include roof mounted solar power or water heating panels, combined solar and wind turbine generated power for illuminated traffic signs, and wearable thermoelectric materials.
Pressure groups
Collections of individuals who hold a similar viewpoint on a particular topic, for example the environment, who take action to promote positive change to meet their goals.
Product stewardship
Everyone involved in making, selling, buying or handling electronic equipment takes responsibility for minimizing environmental impact of the equipment at all stages in the life cycle.
Smart grids
A modernised electrical grid that uses analogue or digital information and communications technology to gather and act on information (such as behaviours of suppliers and consumers) in an automated fashion to improve the efficiency, reliability, economics and sustainability of the production and distribution of electricity. They can be national or international. International grids allow electricity generated in one country to be used in another.
Sustainability reporting
A company report that focusses on four aspects of performance: Economic; Environmental; Social; and Governance.
Sustainable consumption
The consumption of goods and services that have minimal environmental impact, promote social equity and economically viable, whilst meeting basic human needs worldwide.
Sustainable design
Designing physical objects and services in accordance with the principles of social, economic, and environmental sustainability.
Sustainable development
Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Take-back legislation
Laws that require manufacturers to take-back packaging and products at the end of use, requiring manufacturers to take responsibility for their disposal. Reasons for this legislation include to encourage the design of products and packaging that are easily and efficiently recycled, and to reduce waste.
Top-down strategies
At its most basic, this is the breaking down of a system into component parts. From a corporate strategy perspective, this means that the leadership level will determine the goals and how each department and/or individual employees will contribute to meet those goals.
Triple bottom line sustainability
An expanded spectrum of values and criteria for measuring organizational success: economic, environmental and social.
Eco-design
A design strategy that focusses on three broad environmental categories - materials, energy, and pollution/waste.
Cradle to cradle
A design philosophy that aims to eliminate waste from the production, use and disposal of a product. It centres on products which are made to be made again.
Cradle to grave
A design philosophy that considers the environmental effects of a product all of the way from manufacture to disposal.
Cyberactivism
The process of using Internet-based socializing and communication techniques to create, operate and manage activism of any type.
Life cycle analysis (LCA)
The assessment of the effect a product has on the environment through five stages of its life: pre-production; production; distribution (including packaging, utilization, and disposal).
Cyclic - Datschefski's five principals of sustainable design
The product is made from compostable, organic materials or from minerals that are recycled in a continous loop.
Solar - Datschefski's five principals of sustainable design
The product in use consumes only renewable energy that is cyclic and safe.
Safe - Datschefski's five principals of sustainable design
All releases to air, water, land or space are "food" for other systems.
Efficient - Datschefski's five principals of sustainable design
Requiring 90% less energy, materials and water than equivalent products in 1990.
Social - Datschefski's five principals of sustainable design
Its manufacture and use support basic human rights and natural justice.
Brand
A product from a known source (organization). The name of the organization can also serve as a _____.
Brand loyalty
Where a person has a favourite supplier and prefers to buy products from them rather than from other suppliers.
Competition-based pricing
A pricing strategy where a product is positioned in the market based on the price of similar products. The company will position the product by pricing it lower, similar or higher than similar products.
Corporate social responsibility
A form of self-regulation for a company that centres on the development of goals related to three areas: economic; social; and environmental.
Cost-plus pricing
A pricing strategy where a company will add a percentage to the total costs incurred for a product (production, design, distribution etc.)
Demand pricing
A pricing strategy where a company will set the price based on the demand for the product.
Environmental scanning
The study and interpretation of the political, economic, social and technological events and trends that influence a business, industry or market.
Expert appraisal
The reliance on the knowledge and skills of an expert in the operation of the product.
Imitative strategy
Developing products that are similar to an existing new product.
Literature search
The use of consumer reports, newspaper, magazines, encyclopaedias, manufacturers information, etc. to conduct research.
Corporate strategy - Market development
Finding new applications for existing products, thereby opening up new markets.
Corporate strategy - Market penetration
Increasing sales to existing customers or finding new customers for an existing product.
Market research
The systematic gathering of data about individuals or organisations using statistical analysis and techniques to support decision making.
Market sector
A broad way of categorizing the kinds of market the company is aiming for.
Market segment
Markets divide into smaller segments where the purchasers have similar characteristics and tastes.
Marketing mix
Four factors identified through market research that provide the designer with an accurate brief of market requirements. The 4 Ps: Product; Place; Price; and Promotion.
Perceptual mapping
A tool to quickly compare a product to others in the market in a graphical representation.
Pioneering strategy
Being first to market with a new innovation.
Corporate strategy - Product development
The creation of new, modified or updated products aimed mainly at a company's existing customers.
Corporate strategy - Product diversification
Increasing sales from new products or markets.
Product family
A group of products having common classification criteria. Members normally have many common parts and assemblies.
Product line pricing
Where the different products from the same product range are positioned at different price points.
Product standardisation
The process of setting uniform characteristics for a particular product, system or service.
Promotion
The ways that can be used to communicate information about a product or system to consumers and other interested parties.
Psychological pricing
Where a product is priced to give the impression that it is paying less. For example, pricing at €1.99 instead of €2.
Registered design
An intellectual property mark that protects a product's appearance. This refers to the features of the product's shape, configuration, pattern or ornamentation which is new and distinctive.
User research
Obtaining users' responses through questionnaires/surveys and interviews.
User trial
The observation of people using a product and collection of comments from people who have used a product.
Client-based Market Sectors
Allow designers to identify and research issues related to the intended purchaser.
Geographical Market Sectors
Allow designers to identify and research issues related to the location of where products will be marketed.
Hybrid corporate strategy
Using more than one corporate strategy to get a competitive edge.
Incremental products
Engage consumers in purchasing add-ons to already purchased trigger products.
Marketing mix - place/distribution
Concerned with getting the product from the factory to the consumer.
Corporate strategy - Product diversification
Increasing sales from new products and markets.
Trademark
A symbol, word, or words legally registered or established by use as representing a company or product, and distinguishing them from other products.
Trigger products
Products that attract the consumer on their own merit.
Computer integrated manufacturing (CIM)
A system of manufacturing that uses computers to integrate the processing of production, business and manufacturing in order to create more efficient production lines.
Cost-effectiveness
The most efficient way of designing and producing a product from the manufacturer's point of view.
Just in case (JIC)
A situation where a company keeps a small stock of components (or complete items) or ones that take a long time to make, just in case of a rush order.
Just in time (JIT)
A situation where a firm does not allocate space to the storage of components or completed items, but instead orders them (or manufactures them) when required. Large storage areas are not needed and items that are not ordered are not made.
Kaizen
A culture of continuous improvement originating in Japan and considered an important aspect of an organization's long-term strategy.
Lead time
The time between the initiation and the execution of a process.
Lean production
A long-term production strategy that considers product and process design as an ongoing activity. It focusses on continual feedback and incremental improvement.
Quality assurance (QA)
This covers all activities from design to documentation. It also includes the regulation of quality of raw materials, assemblies, products and components, services related to production, and management and inspection processes.
Quality control (QC)
Involved in development systems to ensure that products or services are designed and produced to meet or exceed customer requirements and expectations.
Statistical process control (SPC)
A quality control tool that uses statistical methods to ensure a process is operating at its most efficient.
Value for money
The relationship between what something, for example, a product, is worth and the cash amount spent on it.
Value stream mapping
A lean production management tool used to analyse current and future processes for the production of a product through to delivery to the customer.
Workflow analysis
The review of processes in a workflow in order to identify potential improvements.
Usefulness
The extent to which a product enables the user to achieve their goals.
Effectiveness
A measure of the speed of performance or error rate and its relation to the capabilities of a product
Learnability
The extent to which a user can operate a product or system at a defined level of competence after a pre-determined period of training
Attitude
The perceptions, feelings and opinions about a product by a user.
Affordance
Property of an object that indicates how it can be used. Buttons afford pushing, knobs afford turning.
Anti-personae
A profile of those for whom a product is not designed
Personae
A profile of the primary target audience for a product
Secondary personae
A profile of those who are not the primary target audience for a product, but whose needs the product should meet.
Affinity Diagramming
A tool used to organise ideas and information.
Behavioural Design
Focussed on use and understanding, this considers how people will use a product, focussing on functionality.
Characteristics of a good user-product interface
These include: simplicity and ease of use; intuitive logic, organization and low memory burden; visibility; feedback; affordance; mapping; and constraints.
Constraints
Limitations on how the product can be used
Design for emotion
A design strategy that focusses on increasing user engagement, loyalty and satisfaction with a product by incorporating emotion and personality into product design
Dominant design
The design contains those implicit features of a product that are recognized as essential by a majority of manufacturers and purchasers
Empathetic
When the designer takes the place of the user to see who potentially could use the product and the object could be better suited for the consumer
Enhanced usability
____ ____ increases product acceptance, user experience, and productivity while decreasing user error and required training and support
Environment
The place where a product is likely to be used