Product Design Exam Revision

First Diamond

Discover: Brainstorming, researching

Define: Finalising design brief, creating problem statement

Second Diamond

Develop: Prototyping and testing.

Deliver: taking best concept and creating finished product.

Discover (divergent D1)

Starts with a ‘design problem’ and uses divergent thinking to research to identify the problem, opportunity, or user need that can be addressed.

Define (convergent D1)

Uses convergent thinking to narrow down from research to what the design will be based on design brief.

Develop (divergent D2)

Uses divergent thinking to create many different ideas using end-user feedback.

Deliver (converegent D2)

Uses convergent thinking to construct a finished product to suit the design brief.

Divergent

Starting from design problem, coming up with many different possibilities

Convergent

Turns all ideas into a decision into design brief and final solution.

Need or Oppotunity

Context and purpose for designing and how the product will be used

Function

The purpose of a product, makes it fit for use for its intent

End users

Who the product is intended for (gender, age, living conditions, income)

Aesthetics

Form, appearance and feel (Considers design elements and principles, may relate to ethical considerations in design; aesthetics can influence quality of life)

Market needs or Opportunities

Develops new or improved design solutions to unsolved problems or new needs or opportunities

Product lifestyle

The resources that span a product’s manufacture (includes sourcing of materials, useful life and the impact of disposal/reuse)

Technologies: materials, tools & processes

The technologies, tools and processes used to make the product

Ethical Considerations

Individual values and public values which can be reflected in a product (such as sustainability)

Elements & Principles

Main driver of the aesthetics factor and relates to the visual appearance of products

Constructional data

Joining methods, processees, external dimensions

Materials

Type, properties, justification (why?)

Clarity

Sketch size, position, clear, concise, in pencil

Communication

Annotate/label, layout of work, relevance

Ethical research & Research Techniques

Primary, secondary, qualitive, quantitive research

CNC

Computer Numerical Control

CAD

Computer Aided Design

OHS

Occupational Health and Safety

CAM

Computer Aided Manufacturing

Ethics in Primary Research

Informed consent, do no harm, respect privacy

Ethics in Secondary Research

Acknowledge sources, present honestly.

Research Existing Products

Identifying useful features and areas to improve upon

Constraints

Set limitations that the designer must implement

Considerations

Factors that are taken into account

Difference between Design Elements & Design Principles

Design elements: building blocks of visual designs.

Design principles: rules and guidelines that govern how these elements are used to create a cohesive and effective composition.

Visualisations

Shape, function

Design Options

Rough dimensions, materials, general aesthetics, constructional data (cost, equipment)

Design Elements

Fundamental components used to create visual designs (line, shape, colour, text)

Design Principles

Guides how the design elements are used to achieve an outcome (balance, contrast, repetition, variety, proportion)

Elements of a Design Brief

Need or Opportunity, Intended Function, End-user-Profile, Project Scopes (constraints & considerations)