1 point perspective drawing
Illusion of forms drawn back to one vanishing point on the horizon line
2 point perspective drawing
2 vanishing points are used and the object is diagonal to viewer
Act of Insight (innovation strategies)
Often referred to as the "eureka moment", a sudden image of a potential solution is formed in the mind, usually after a period of thinking about a problem.
Adaptation (innovation strategies)
A solution to a problem in one field is used to provide a new idea for a design problem in another.
Additive Techniques
Manufacturing techniques that add material in order to create it
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.
Aesthetic Appeal
Favorable in terms of appearance
Aesthetic charateristics
Aspects of a product that relate to tastes, texture, smell and appearance
Aesthetic models
A model developed to look and feel like the final product.
Air-drying
Stacks sawed timber in the open or in large shed hence there is little control over the drying process. Will warp the wood.
Alertness
The level of vigilance, readiness or caution of an individual.
Alloy
A mixture that contains at least two metals. This can be a mixture of metals or a mixture of metals and non-metals.
Analogy (innovation strategies)
An idea from one context is used to stimulate ideas for solving a problem in another context.
Animation
The ability to link graphic screens together in such a way as to simulate motion or a process.
Anthropometrics
The aspect of ergonomics that deals with body measurements,
particularly those of size, strength and physical capacity.
Architectural innovation
The technology of the components stays the same, but the configuration of the components is changed to produce a new design.
Assembly drawings
A diagram that shows how components fit together to make a whole. Typically presented in an exploded view.
Assembly line production
A volume production process where products and components are moved continuously along a conveyor. As the product goes from one work station to another, components are added until the final product is assembled.
Automated production
A volume production process involving machines controlled by computers.
Batch production
Limited volume production (a set number of items to be produced)
Bio-compatibility
The product ensures the continued health of a biological environment.
Biomechanics
The research and analysis of the mechanics of living organisms. Biomechanics in Human factors includes the research and analysis of the mechanics (operation of our muscles, joints, tendons, etc.) of our
human body. It also includes Force (impact on user's joints), Repetition, Duration and Posture.
Bottom-up modelling
A designer creates part geometry independent of the assembly or any other component. Although there are often some design criteria established before modelling the part, this information is not shared between models. Once all parts are completed, they are brought together for the first time in the assembly.
Bowing
A warp along the length of the face of the wood
Brittle
Easily breaks into numerous pieces
Chance (innovation strategies)
An unexpected discovery leads to a new idea.
Chemically inert
Lack of re-activity with other materials
Circular economy
An economy model in which resources remain in use for as long as possible, from which maximum value is extracted while in use, and the products and materials are recovered and regenerated at the end of the product life cycle.
Clean technology
Products, services or processes that reduce waste and require the minimum amount of non-renewable resources.
Clearance
The physical space between two objects.
Cognitive Ergonomics
How mental processes, (memory, reasoning, motor response and perception), affect the interactions between users and other components of a system.
Combined Heat and Power (CHP)
A system that simultaneously generates heat and electricity from either the combustion of fuel, or a solar heat collector.
Comfort
A person's sense of physical or psychological ease
Competition
Any company or product that can fulfil similar functions for a similar market
Composite
a material comprised of two or more constituent materials that have different properties
Compressive strength
The ability of a material to withstand being pushed or squashed
Computer Aided Design (CAD)
The use of computers to aid the design process.
Computer Numerical Control (CNC)
Refers specifically to the computer control of machines for the purpose of manufacturing complex parts in metals and other materials. Machines are controlled by a program commonly called a "G code". Each code is assigned to a particular operation or process. The codes control X, Y, Z movements and feed speeds.
Conceptual modelling
A model that exists in the mind used to help us know and understand ideas.
Configurational innovation
A change is made in both technology and organization.
Conflict and compromise
The development of new products often require a multidisciplinary team including designers, engineers, and manufacturers. These different actors often have different priorities when developing a product. In order to achieve the goals of creating the new product, the different team members must often reach an agreement.
Continuous flow
A production method used to manufacture, produce or process materials without interruption.
Converging technologies
The synergistic merging of nanotechnology, biotechnology, information and communication technologies and cognitive science.
Copyright
A legal right that grants the creator of an original work exclusive ownership for its use and distribution. Usually for a limited time and within geographical boundaries, copyright allows the creator to receive compensation for their intellectual effort.
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.
Craft production
A small-scale production process centered on manual skills.
Creep
The slow, permanent deformation of a solid material under the influence of a mechanical stress.
Creosote
A material that penetrates the timber fibers protecting the integrity of the wood from attack from borer, wood lice, and fugal attack.
Culture
In the context of classic design, this plays an important part. Products often reflect these influences and mark transition points within a particular one.
Cupping
A warp across the width of the face of wood, in which the edges are higher or lower than the centre
Data modelling
A model that determines the structure of data.
Dematerialization
The reduction of total material and energy throughout of any product and service
Density
The mass per unit volume of a material. Its importance is in portability in terms of a product's weight and size. Design contexts include, pre-packaged food (instant noodles) is sold by weight and volume, packaging foams.
Design classic
A product that serves as a standard of its time, that has been manufactured industrially and has timeless appeal.
Design for assembly
Designing taking account of component to component assembly, components into sub-assemblies and sub-assemblies into complete products.
Design for disassembly
Designing a product so that when it becomes obsolete it can easily and economically be taken apart, the components reused or repaired, and the materials recycled.
Design for Manufacture
Designers design specifically for optimum use of existing manufacturing capability
Design for Materials
Planning in relation to materials during processing
Design for process
Planning to enable the product to be manufactured using a specific manufacturing process, for example, injection molding.
Design for the environment software
Software that allows designers to perform Life cycle analysis (LCA) on a product and assess its environmental impact.
Design protection
A simple and cost-effective way to protect an innovative shape, appearance or ornamentation.
Design specification
A simple and cost-effective way to protect an innovative shape, appearance or ornamentation.
Diffusion (Markets)
The wide acceptance (and sale) of a product.
Digital human
Computer simulation of a variety of mechanical and biological aspects of the human body
Disruptive innovation
A product or type of technology that challenges existing companies to ignore or embrace technical change
Dominant design
The design contains those implicit features of a product that are recognized as essential by a majority of manufacturers and purchasers.
Drivers for invention
These include personal motivation to express creativity/for personal interest, scientific or technical curiosity, constructive discontent, desire to make money, desire to help others.
Dry rot
When timber is subject to decay and attacked by fungus
Ductility
The ability of a material to be drawn or extruded into a wire or other extended shape
Dynamic data
Human body measurements taken when the subject is in motion related to range and reach of various body movements. E.g. crawling height, overhead reach and the range of upper body movements.
Early adopters
The second fastest category to adopt an innovation
Early majority
The third fastest group to adopt an innovation, tends to take more time to consider adopting new innovations and is inclined to draw from feedback from early adopters before taking the risk of purchasing new products/systems
Eco-Design
A design strategy that focusses on three broad environmental categories - materials, energy, and pollution/waste.
Elasticity
The extent to which a material will return to its original shape after being deformed
Electrical insulator
Reduces transmission of electric charge
Electrical resistivity
The measure of a material's ability to conduct electricity. A material that has a low amount of this will conduct electricity well.
Electro-Rheostatic
This smart property relates to a fluid that can undergo a dramatic change in its viscosity when exposed to an electric field.
Embodied Energy
The total energy required to produce a product.
End-of-pipe Technologies
Technology that is used to reduce pollutants and waste at the end of a process.
Energy distribution
The method with which energy is transported from a source to where it is used.
Energy storage
The method with which energy is retained for later use.
Energy utilization
The method with which energy is used.
Entrepreneur
An influential individual who can take an invention to market, often by financing the development, production and diffusion of a product into the marketplace.
Environmental Factors
A set of psychological factors that can affect the performance of an individual that come from the environment that the individual is situated.
Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC)
Point at which the moisture content of wood achieves an equilibrium with the environment which can be affected by humidity and temperature.
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.
Felting
A method for converting yarn into fabric by matting the fibers together
Fidelity
The degree to which a prototype is exactly like the final product.
Finite element analysis
The calculation and simulation of unknown factors in products using CAD systems. For example, simulating the stresses within a welded car part.
First Generation Robots
A simple mechanical arm that has ability to make precise motions at high speed. They need constant supervision by a human operator.
First to market
The first product of its type to be released on the market.
Form
Also considered as the three-dimensional space that a product takes up, in the context of classic design, relates to the shape of a product and the aesthetic qualities that the shape gives.
Formal drawing techiques
A type of drawing technique that has fixed rules, the most widely used being isometric projection and perspective drawing.
Free moisture
The moisture within timber that is contained within the cell cavities and inter cellular spaces.
Function
Products can be considered classic designs based on how well they fulfil the task that they have been designed for
Functional Data
Dynamic data measurements while performing a required task e.g. reaching abilities, maneuvering and aspects of space and equipment use.