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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.

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  • 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.

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    Forest Stewardship Council Logo

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  • 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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