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AQA GCSE Product Design: 2.1 - Selections of Materials or Components

Selections of Materials and Products:

  • Functionality - How a product is suited to the specific needs of a product.

  • Aesthetics - How it is pleasing to the 5 senses.

  • Environmental Factors - Including transportation (carbon footprint), materials and recyclability.


The 6 R's

  • Availability - How easy is it to get the material(s)?

  • Cost - Too cheap: no profit, too expensive: no one will buy it.

  • Social Factors - How people’s opinions change them. Can be affected by religion, gender, wealth or family

  • The FSC - Forest Stewardship Council, a non-government organization protecting all timber sources and helping to manage the usage of trees.

Forest Stewardship Council Logo

  • Cultural Factors - Values of an individual or community that affect behaviour. One culture may find something rude/offensive, e.g. red: good luck in China, mourning in South Africa.

  • Ethical Factors - What is morally correct, minimising the use of natural resources; using renewable materials.

Selections in Timber, Metals and Polymers:

  • Functionality -

    • Child toy: light, bright, acrylic better than metal

    • Cupboards and tables: rigid, timber

    • Radiators and pans: conduct heat, metal

    • Hardwoods are better at resisting decay

    • Metals corrode without coating

    • Polymers crack and scratch easily

  • Aesthetics -

    • Child toy: easily coloured, bright, polymer

    • Garden furniture: strong, long-lasting, metal

    • Chair: rigid, allows curved shapes, timber

    • Lampshade: attractive with and without light

  • Environmental Factors -

    • Timber from managed forests is recycled and reused easily - renewable

    • Plastics reused and recycled easily

    • Reusing plastic, metal and glass

    • Use of energy

    • Easily repaired - less made

    • Where it’s used - location

    • Good quality materials extend the product’s life

  • Availability -

    • Different trees grow at different speeds

    • Natural events change availability - e.g. volcanoes, hurricanes

    • Bespoke is less available than fitted

  • Cost -

    • The initial price of raw materials affects the end price

    • Complex manufacturing processes and finishes increase prices significantly

    • Traditional woodworking skills cost more as time-consuming and need a finish

    • Most polymers are self-finishing, take less time, cheaper

    • Materials need to be appropriate

  • Social Factors -

    • Computers and robots allow products to be made quicker, cheaper and more accurate

    • Many people in poverty: can’t afford the best quality

    • Elderly people may struggle with certain products

  • Cultural Factors -

    • Colour and decoration may be unique

    • e.g. Japanese people eat on the floor, different furniture needed

    • Gender can affect style, colour and design

  • Ethical Factors -

    • Cheap labour leads to pollution and exploitation

    • Deforestation leads to global warming which causes extinction

    • Ethically sourced timbers reduce environmental damage

    • Worker protection is ethical

    • Correct disposal is important

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AQA GCSE Product Design: 2.1 - Selections of Materials or Components

Selections of Materials and Products:

  • Functionality - How a product is suited to the specific needs of a product.

  • Aesthetics - How it is pleasing to the 5 senses.

  • Environmental Factors - Including transportation (carbon footprint), materials and recyclability.


The 6 R's

  • Availability - How easy is it to get the material(s)?

  • Cost - Too cheap: no profit, too expensive: no one will buy it.

  • Social Factors - How people’s opinions change them. Can be affected by religion, gender, wealth or family

  • The FSC - Forest Stewardship Council, a non-government organization protecting all timber sources and helping to manage the usage of trees.

Forest Stewardship Council Logo

  • Cultural Factors - Values of an individual or community that affect behaviour. One culture may find something rude/offensive, e.g. red: good luck in China, mourning in South Africa.

  • Ethical Factors - What is morally correct, minimising the use of natural resources; using renewable materials.

Selections in Timber, Metals and Polymers:

  • Functionality -

    • Child toy: light, bright, acrylic better than metal

    • Cupboards and tables: rigid, timber

    • Radiators and pans: conduct heat, metal

    • Hardwoods are better at resisting decay

    • Metals corrode without coating

    • Polymers crack and scratch easily

  • Aesthetics -

    • Child toy: easily coloured, bright, polymer

    • Garden furniture: strong, long-lasting, metal

    • Chair: rigid, allows curved shapes, timber

    • Lampshade: attractive with and without light

  • Environmental Factors -

    • Timber from managed forests is recycled and reused easily - renewable

    • Plastics reused and recycled easily

    • Reusing plastic, metal and glass

    • Use of energy

    • Easily repaired - less made

    • Where it’s used - location

    • Good quality materials extend the product’s life

  • Availability -

    • Different trees grow at different speeds

    • Natural events change availability - e.g. volcanoes, hurricanes

    • Bespoke is less available than fitted

  • Cost -

    • The initial price of raw materials affects the end price

    • Complex manufacturing processes and finishes increase prices significantly

    • Traditional woodworking skills cost more as time-consuming and need a finish

    • Most polymers are self-finishing, take less time, cheaper

    • Materials need to be appropriate

  • Social Factors -

    • Computers and robots allow products to be made quicker, cheaper and more accurate

    • Many people in poverty: can’t afford the best quality

    • Elderly people may struggle with certain products

  • Cultural Factors -

    • Colour and decoration may be unique

    • e.g. Japanese people eat on the floor, different furniture needed

    • Gender can affect style, colour and design

  • Ethical Factors -

    • Cheap labour leads to pollution and exploitation

    • Deforestation leads to global warming which causes extinction

    • Ethically sourced timbers reduce environmental damage

    • Worker protection is ethical

    • Correct disposal is important