Studied by 3 people
What are design strategies?
Philosophies that guide how the design process takes place.
What can design strategies avoid?
Design fixation. Designers are prevented from becoming overly attached to a specific idea.
What is iterative design? Give an example.
When each iteration is tested and evaluated then changes are made, leading to a new iteration. E.g. Dyson vacuum cleaners.
What are the advantages of iterative design?
Problems will be discovered and dealt with
Encourages focus on the most critical aspect
User feedback is constantly gathered
Evidence of progress can be easily provided
What are the disadvantages of iterative design?
Can be too focused and lose sight of the bigger picture
Incredibly time consuming
What is user-centred design?
Where the wants and needs of the end user are extensively considered at each stage.
What are the advantages of user-centred design?
End user feels listened to
More likely the final product will meet user expectations
What are the disadvantages of user-centred design?
Extra time to meet with users
May be unviable to sell if too focused on a particular end user
What is systems thinking?
A top-down approach to design that starts with a system overview in terms of input, process and output.
What are the advantages of systems thinking?
Doesn’t require highly specialist knowledge
Easy to communicate with others
Designed in blocks, so easy to find errors
What are the disadvantages of systems thinking?
Lead to use of unnecessary components
Lead to larger systems and extra cost
What do input devices do? Give two examples.
Take a ‘real-world signal’ and turn it into an electronic signal. E.g. switches and sensors.
What do processes do? Give an examples.
Alter the electronic signal to create functions such as timing and counting. E.g. microcontrollers
What do drivers do?
Increase the signal going into the output stage so that it has enough current to work effectively.
What do output devices do? Give an example.
They take an electronic signal and turn it into a real-world signal. E.g. speakers and lamps.
What do the different parts of a block diagram represent?
Arrows represent the signal
Blocks represent the components
How can microcontrollers be programmed?
Using flowcharts software, block-based program editors or raw programming code
What does a push to make switch do? What is it’s circuit symbol?
Input device. Allows current to flow through when pressed.
What does a light-dependent resistor do? What is it’s circuit symbol?
Input device. Resistance that changes depending on light levels.
What does a thermistor do? What is it’s circuit symbol?
Input device. Resistance that changes depending on temperature.
What does a microcontroller do? What is it’s circuit symbol?
Process. A small computer that can be programmed to provide functionality.
What does a buzzer do? What is it’s circuit symbol?
Output device. Produce a buzzing sound when current flows through.
What does a speaker do? What is it’s circuit symbol?
Output device. Turns electronic signals into sound.
What does a lamp do? What is it’s circuit symbol?
Output device. Produces light when current flows through
Who was Norman Foster?
British architect
Design the high-tech Gherkin
Uses less that half of the usual energy required for a similar sized building
Who was Philippe Starck?
French designer best known for interior products and furniture
Designed the ‘Juicy Salif’ for Alessi in 1990
Who was Vivienne Westwood?
British punk fashion designer
Major player in the New Romantic and New Wave pop culture fashions
Credited with bringing them into the mainstream
What is Alessi? What do they sell?
Italian design company producing everyday houseware
Many products are in the ‘post-modern’ style
Famous example is the ‘Juicy Salif’
What is Dyson? What do they sell?
British design engineering company
In 2001 over 27% of UK-sold vacuums were Dyson
Their vacuums are bagless and don’t lose suction due to cyclone dust-separation technology
What is Under Armour? What do they sell?
American sportswear company formed by Kevin Plank in 1996
Developed moisture-wicking sportswear that uses microfibres
Now sells foot wear, casual clothing and accessories
What can mining result in?
Appearance of sinkholes
Erosion
Contamination of soil
What is oil needed for?
Needed to make plastics and must be drilled for
What can over-farming and the use of pesticides lead to?
Contamination of land
Death of wildlife
What must designers consider in regards to the ecological issues of manufacture?
Distance/mileage a product travels
Source of raw materials
Place of manufacture
Final disposal
What are the six R’s?
Reduce
Rethink
Refuse
Recycle
Reuse
Repair
What has air pollution been linked to?
Respiratory illnesses e.g. lung cancer and asthma
What is oceanic pollution?
When chemicals and other industrial waste is released into the oceans.
What does oceanic pollution have a negative effect on?
Marine life and habitats
Why may some people choose not to buy a product?
If they think it hasn’t been designed/made in a socially considerate manner.
What is Fairtrade?
A movement that works to help people in developing countries get a fair deal for the products they produce. They get paid an agreed minimum rate even if the global price falls.
What does a Fairtrade Premium payment do?
Can be used to invest in areas e.g. local education and healthcare
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