Fashion - Product Design and Technology Revision Notes

Unit 3: Applying The Product Design Process

1. Unit 3 AOS 1: Designing for end-user/s
- Product design process and factors
- Designers and end-users
- Market Research
- The Design Brief

2. Unit 3 AOS 2: Product development in industry

- The role of R&D and importance for industry
- Obsolescence
- Scales of manufacturing
- New and Emerging Technologies
- Manufacturing Processes
- Sustainability
- Brand Research
Unit 4: Product Development and Evaluation
3. Unit 4 AOS 1: Product analysis and comparison
- Evaluating Commercial Products
- Prioritising attributes
- How products are evaluated:
- Quality of a product
- Environmental, economic, and social issues with products
- Comparing products
Product Design process:
Step 1: Identify end-user/s, need, problem or
opportunity
Finding the reason to create something new -
Perceiving a need through a personal experience -
Market-led design or opportunities; Identifying a gap
within an existing market - Identifying the end-
user/s; interview, market research, user profile -
Once primary need as been identified, secondary
needs can be considered/determined

Step 2: Design Brief

Written statement outlining the design problem and
its requirements - An outline of the context or
situation Constraints (specific) and considerations -
Content = product design factors

Step 3: Evaluation Criteria

Evaluation criteria come directly from the requirements
of the product design factors that are included in the
brief, and are written questions. They emphasis what is
important. - To help focus the designer on the
requirements of the problem when designing - To apply
to the finished product to determine whether or not it
has provided an satisfactory and quality solution to the
design problem.

Step 4: Research
Research and design activities can be triggered by key words and phrases in the design brief.

Step 5: Visualisations
Brainstorms EG. Mind Maps - quick sketches, mostly small, to nut out and develop ideas to show links or influence from
research. Can be in 3D form, such as model or mock-ups

Step 6: Design Options, selection and justification of the preferred option

Presentation drawings are used to represent design options. They represent the most suitable ideas from visualizations; they
give a very clear picture of the proposed design. - Should fulfil most of the evaluation criteria - Must be annotated

Step 7: Working Drawings

Flats are for non-resistant materials (ie. textiles) - Requires back and front views - Require measurements to suit the end-user

Step 8: Scheduled production plan

Risk assessment - GANTT Chart - Predicted Sequence Work Plan

Step 9: Production
Produce a product or prototype, refining and modifying your work as you go. This needs to be recorded.

Step 10: Product Evaluation

To see how well your product has solved the design problem, achieved its overall purpose and met the identified need, it
needs to be checked, trialed and/or tested.- Suggested areas for improvement; aesthetics, functional aspects, suitability of
materials, quality, time and budget

Design Principles Design Elements

- Balance - Shape
- Repetition - Texture
- Movement - Tone
- Rhythm - Colour
- Proportion - Opacity
- Symmetry - Line
- Positive/negative space - Form
- Contrast
Product Design Factors:
1. Purpose, function and context:
- The design brief, analysing products, primary and secondary functions, functionality and quality
- Primary and secondary functions:
o Primary function: main/most important thing a product does, basis reason it exists
o Secondary function: Differentiates product from competitors, may be feature eliminated from
design

- Functionality:
o Functionality: the ability to perform a task as required
o Way of expressing the primary and secondary functions
o Ability for product to do its job/ how It works
o Strength, ease, flexibility, movement
o Reliability: The ability of a product o perform its purpose repeatedly and over a long period of
time, without failure

- Quality:
o Quality: Features and characteristics of a product that bear on its ability to satisfy its stated
purpose or function
o Depends on knowledge and expectations of legal factors, materials, appearance and construction
o Australian/ international standards define benchmarks for quality
o Aspects of quality: reliability, durability, strength
§ Properties and characteristics of materials/suitability for product
§ Ease of use
§ Strength/accuracy of construction
§ Visual and aesthetic appeal

- The design brief:

o Problem outlined, Including purpose of intended product
o Product must fulfil expected function
o Function relies on context (background making up situation)
o Size, weight, performance, operation, quality, safetyàsupport primary function (secondary)
-
- Analysing products:
o Informative, adds to quality of designs
o Identifying primary function (main/most important purpose) and secondary (enables primary
function to performs most effectively)
 2. Human-centred design:
- Focus on humans, their needs and how they interact with products
- Looking at human needsà how a product can be designed to fit need
- Culture and religion:
o Contributing factor to human needs
o Affect of determine the way people behave in contextsà how they use a product
o Cultural ‘rules’ need to be taken into account when designing products for places

- Inclusive or universal design:

o Designing products for use by a broad range of people regardless of age, gender, SES
o Cater for the elderly and those with disabilities
o Aspects to increase range of users:
§ Large and bold visual aspects § Lightweight product
§ Different textures indicating § Parts easily reached
parts
- Design for impoverished communities:
o Observing, listening and researching how impoverish communities liveà product benefits
o People must be able to afford product, must be used independently, easy and cheap to maintain

- Ergonomics and physiological factors

o Physically suitable products must have ergonomic principals (Environà tools, materials, equipment
used)
o Ergonomics: the relationship between people, the products they use and their physical
environment
o Ergonomic principalsà analyse+ improve comfort and ease of use, minimise fatigue, safety
§ Body size (anthropometry)
§ Designers need to know the range of sizes people will fall
§ Obtaining approximate sizes (minimum, maximum, average sizes)
§ Body movement (biomechanics)
§ Noting the amount of movement with without discomfort
§ Limits possible+ space required around activity
§ Body conditions (environment)
§ Conditions needed to comfort the user
§ Smell, colour, noise, light, heat

- Emotional and sensory appeal

o Emotions directing purchase can be conscious and unconscious
o Companies market brands to tap into emotions (making it appear viscerallyà deep, inward feeling)

- Social and physical needs:

o To belong, feel safe, feel good, eat well, release energy, keep warm in winter

- Fashion and trends:

o People like to keep up to date with trends
o Designers appeal to a customer’s need for fashion

- Design brief:
o Consider user and needs in DB
o Consider how you can tap into people’s emotional reaction to attract them to work

- Analysing products:
o Identify what the human need is + how it has been catered for in the product
o Emotional response to a product
 3. Innovation and creativity:
- Not always something new, new approach that is different and better
- Processes that renews something that exists [innovation happens through creativity]
- Can be products, processes, organisations

o Radical innovation:
§ Makes a notable change using enquiry and experimentation
§ Never assuming something is impossible, ignore negativity, give ever idea consideration
o Tame innovation:
§ Change/modification occurred by small amounts or increments
§ Can come from research and development, feedback, new materials/processes
- Design brief:
o Don’t stay too restrictive with requirements [allow room for creativity]
- Analysing products:
o Comparisons with current and older designsà determine where innovation lies
o Identify specific aspects/features that are creative

4. Visual, tactile and aesthetic:

- Those that appeal to the senses
- Visual/aesthetic: related to appearance and what is seen| Tactile: related to what can be felt
- Visual images of design influence our preferenceà no fixed rules of beauty
- ‘Beauty’ depends on: age, cultural background, peer group, likes, gender
- Particular materials carry tactile qualities: furry, shiny, silky, smooth, rough, corrugated, spongy
- Needs to be a balance between image and function

- Design brief:
o Include requirements about garment aesthetics
o Outline visual aspects that would appeal to the client
o Employ different design elements and principles to enhance your ideas
- Analysing products:
o Deconstruct visual and tactile factors by identifying and describing design elements

5. Economics- time and cost:

- During design process designers must monitor overall cost of a product including:
o Materials or components o Equipment (maintenance, repair, replacement)
o Labour o Legislative compliance
o Energy (heating, electricity, lights) o Marketing
o Facilities (cost of manufacturing space) o Distribution
- Designers should keep costs down to create profit
- Priced too highà not seen as value for money| priced too lowà might be judged as inferior product
- Designers keep strict budget when working for company
- Time equated with cost
- Retail price determined by what consumers want to pay + price of similar products
- Design brief:
o Include a date for production to be finishedà impacts on work in later stages
o Research on cost of material important+ sticking to timeline
- Analysing products:
o Wont find information on cost to design and manufacture product
o Able to find retail price and year of manufacture
 6. Sustainability:
- The interaction between the environment, society and economics
- Triple bottom line: people, planet, profits
- Social:
o Ensuring the needs of people are considered and addressed (safety and
health)
o Companies recognise corporate social responsibility to those
connected to work
o Financial support to community development
o Can also consider human-centred design and see how their products
contribute to well-being of society

- Environmental:
o Air, water, land, animals, plant growth
o Every product we buy consumers these resourcesà negative impacts on the environment
o Conserving and recycling resources and reducing waste
o Product design affecting environment:
§ Material selection (extraction § Distributing methods (reducing transport
and processing) distances
§ Selection of production § Design product for minimal impact when used
processes (creating waste and § Design product for long life
pollutants)
o Product usage affecting environment:
§ Product using energy/fuel is § Washing clothes in cold water rather than hot
carefully maintained (saves energy)
§ Drying clothes on line rather § Washing clothes less often
than dryer § Driving vehicles at speed which uses less fuel
- Economic:
o Economic growth important for nations, companies, individuals
o EG needs to occur without negatively impacting on community or environment
o Enthusiasm for sustainable practices wanes in economic downturns
o Positive environment and social changeà costly
- Supply chain:
o Creating and development of sustainable products means ensuring that their journey to
market is ethical
o Businesses may distance themselves from impacts of products (blame suppliers)
o Responsibility to know:
§ Origins of raw materials
§ Fair treatment of workers
§ Impacts of manufacturing of environment
- Emotional attachment:
o Positive and negative effects
o Goodà sustainable decision, badà ‘high’ of buying something new/ not needed
o Designers, manus etc. play on emotions of consumers
o Want to keep up to dateà purchase spontaneously on whim because of emotional
attachment
- Design brief:
o Include requirements relating to sustainability
o Make choices of product: waste minimisation, disposal of product, efficient production
processes
- Analysing products:
o Look at materials used, construction methods, transport and distribution
o Suggest how product can be more sustainable
o Investigate claims made by company
 7. Legal responsibilities:
- Intellectual property
o Property of mind/intellect+ ways it is expressed
o The right to own+ earn from your creations
o Protecting IP
§ Gives the owner the right to stop others copying their idea
o Copyright:
§ Written words or 2D representations
§ Occurs automatically (doesn’t need to be applied)
§ Protects works the express ideas, not ideas/concepts themselves
o Design registration:
§ Protection for the shape and appearance of functional articles, not how a product
functions
§ Design must be ‘new and distinctive’
§ Registration must be obtained before the design is seen publicly
§ Protects products intended for low-volume/mass production
o Patents:
§ Certification or grant or grant of right to a creator assuring the sole right to produce a
product
§ Can be granted for new, inventive products
§ Is an actual document containing technical drawings, measurements and written
descriptions
o Copying/ using other IP
§ Theft or piracy of someone else’s work
§ Can lead to prosecution, fines, damages, loss of employment
o Acknowledging IP:
§ Acknowledging the sources of your inspiration or aspects you have copied into designs
§ Naming designer, author of publication, title of publication
- Australian + international standards:
o Standards: set out technical specifications or other criteria necessary to ensure that a
material, method or product will consistently do the job it is intended to do
o Periodically reviewed, Aus standards mirror International standards
o ISO sets out standards used globally for ease of manufacturing, trade+ communications
o ISO:9000/1à standards relating t quality management of systems and processes of how a
product is produced, rater than the product itselfà outline mgmt. systems to achieve
standard quality
- Safety of products:
o Product should always be safe to use
o Children’s nightwear needs to be safe to wear when heating
o Developed to cater for almost every type of product
o Marked with standardised tick
- Occupational health and safety:
o Applies to all workplaces
o Must be kept safe for employees, customers, public, injuryà loss of org. reputation
o OH+S act 2004 specify the way duties imposed must be performed
o Safety regulation often changed
- Design brief:
o Acknowledge Ip in design brief and folio
o Developing DBà check whether there is a relevant standard to the product
o Designing productà think about safety of end user, consider product may be used in
unintended way
o Productionà follow OH+S, ensure finished product is safe, do a risk assessment
- Analysing products:
o Acknowledge IP, check if there is a relevant standard
o Suggest ways product can be made safer
 8. Materials – characteristics and properties:
- Suitability
o Balancing a number of factors (DB, situation, client, function of product)
o Core of material selection:
§ Characteristics and properties § Availability of materials
§ Cost § Environmental impact (sourcing, production,
§ Aesthetic qualities use, disposal)
§ Ability to be processed
o Most expensive not always the most
suitable
- Characteristics and properties
o How they function in the design
situation
o Hardness, insulation, odour, taste,
feel, shine, colour, elasticity
- Aesthetics
o Colour, texture, sheen, natural,
synthetics, opacity, visual weight
- Compatibility of materials:
o Existing in same place without
harming each other
o Aestheticsà contrast of
colour/texture, visual appeal
o Joining methodsà strong and
durable, research, testing and
awareness of OH+S regulations, can
they be taken apart?
o Proximity of materialsà neither
material should deteriorate due to
proximity
§ Dyed fabric rubs on white
cotton and turns redà white
synthetic doesn’t absorb
colours
o Combining appropriatelyà
properties considered carefully
§ Combining materials to
ensure product viability
required research (flex,
durable, elastic, wash)
- Design brief:
o Include requirements about the
materials (not define them)
o Describe properties/characteristics
à have choice
o Check compatibility of joining,
washing, aesthetics when combining
materials
- Analysing products:
o Identify materials, why they have
been chosen, how suitable they are
 9. Technologies – tools, processes and manufacturing methods:
- Information and communication technology used in every aspect of design
- Technologies: hand-held, power tools, complex machinery used in conversion of raw materials and
processes during production
- Conversion techniques:
o Processes required to convert raw materials into useable materials
o Many levels of useability
o Textile fibres come from large variety of sources (natural, synthetic), metals (extracted from
the ground), plastics (variety of sources)
o Many conversion techniques performed by complex computer-controlled
equipmentàreduced cost, high consistency
o Many required a lot of processing to become usable
- Forms of material:
o After conversion material comes in variety of forms
o Plasticàsheets, rods, mouldings, Metalà sheets, rods, bars, Woodà board, Fibreà
yarn, fabric
- Processing methods:
o Method determined by how well a process does the required job, skill level required, time
limit
- In industry
o Most companies outsource manufacturing to factories based on:
§ Location, availability
§ Cost, time
§ Achieved quality
o Manufacturers inform design company of new, efficient processesà better quality/cheaper
product
o Robotic technologies reduced need to specific toolsà respond flexibly to demand
- Design brief
o Consider available technologies that can be operated safely and competently
o Research materialsà knowledge of conversion of raw forms (sustainability)
o Purchaseà form best suited to design (refined forms $$à avoids error
o Some technologies may need to be outsourced
- Analysing products:
o Compare tech with what’s available in workshop
o How is mass production achieved
o Consistent, accurate, quality
Designers and End-users
Designers:
Throughout the product design process, it is crucial that the designer and end-user/s collaborate to produce
an item that is innovative, original, and fulfils the requirements of its audience. Both parties play significant
roles when it comes to creating a new product from scratch and communication between the two is vital for
success.
A designer is someone that can come up with a viable solution to a problem by working through the stages of
the design process. For designers to create the best solutions to a problem, they need to carefully assess the
end-user's needs. For VCE, we primarily observe designers whose viable solution is a functional and visually
appealing 3D product.
There are many things that designers do such as:
- Brainstorm/mind-map: refining ideas, creating visualisations, and exploring the design elements
and principles
- Experiment: trying something new, making prototypes, and learning from trial and error
- Organisation: communicating with end-user/s, time management, budgeting, planning time to
research, managing materials, and always asking for feedback
- Research: investigating information is relevant to the product (materials, end-users, ergonomics,
etc.)
- Creative and lateral thinking
- Understanding the context and requirements of a project: developing a design brief (with
constraints and considerations) and using the product design factors to create an innovative solution.

End-users:
Can be an individual or a specific group of people who will most likely use the product. The end-users
address their wants, needs, and ideas with a designer and work together to create a solution.
The end-user's role includes:
- Providing as much feedback and/or advice to the designer to help them improve the product
- Communicating with the designer on aspects such as aesthetic features, function, materials, etc.
- The intention to use the finished product created by the designer

THE DESIGNER: THE CLIENT:

• Keep track of new developments • Give the designer as much information as possible
• Manage Budget and time • Provide a time limit and budget
• Gain feedback • Accept that changes may involve cost
• Research information • Help choose materials
• Decide on materials • Provide feedback
• Present clients with ideas and options • Be available for consultations
• Satisfy clients’ needs
THE END USER: THE RELATIONSHIP:
• Designers must consider needs of client + end user • Designer and client must communicate (phone, face
• Client: similar products to determine quality to face, social media)
• End user: What they require, aesthetics, target • Decide if designer can fulfil requirements
market • Many factors are considered
• Discussion: products intended enviro, materials,
measurements, finishes
• Further researchàseveral solutionsàcost for client
Collaboration:
Although the designer is in control of the design of a product, the end-user will always have more influence
over every aspect of the product than the designer will. As the designer's goal is to meet the needs of the end-
user, they will constantly adapt their designs so that their end-users are happy. The designer may have a say
in a product, however, the most influential party out of the two will always be the end-user
Market research:
Market research involves investigating and analysing data on a specific group of people. This
involves researching their needs, interests, lifestyles, opinions, and behaviours.

Methods of exploring the product design factors as specified by the client or identified for a
used group through the use of appropriate market research:
- Designer must be certain that their creation will solve DB problem
- Designers can: examine the market place, understand new tech, predict new tech, draw on experience,
listen to complaints

There are many different methods of conducting market research and this information can be separated into
quantitative or qualitative data.
- Quantitative = data focuses on numerical responses, such as numbers that can be counted, scored,
or measured.
- Qualitative = data on the other hand focuses on descriptive information.

Market research can either come from a primary or secondary source.

Primary sources: are when a designer conducts the research themselves, such as:
- Observing and investigating how a specific end-user group uses a similar product
- Conducting questionnaires or surveys
- Testing new materials to see if they are suitable for the product
- Interviewing a group of end-users and obtaining in-depth answers
- Examining the environment the new product is going to be used in
- Taking photos and evaluating how the product can be made to suit this environment

Secondary sources: on the other hand come from researching information that has already been
published by others. Some examples are:
- Researching materials that could be used by looking at published information about their properties
- Looking through legal documents such as patents
- Identifying similar products online

There are also qualitative and quantitative market research methods.

Qualitative market research:
- End-user feedback (interview/survey/observations) that asks for descriptions as opposed to just
numerical answers
- Questionnaires containing open-ended questions
- Focus groups for gathering descriptive feedback or emotional responses to the product
- End-user trials asking for descriptive feedback
Quantitative market research:
- Survey on how much people are prepared to pay
- End-user trials asking users to score aspects out of a number
- Survey questions with limited choices as answers
- Questionnaires with yes/no or numerical answers

Market research in development helps designers develop a product that functions better
and is more innovative than current products on the market.
The Design Brief:
Once relevant information has been gathered, it is possible for designers to create a design brief. A design
brief is a written statement outlining the context of a design problem and its requirements (constraints and
considerations). An outline of context briefly describes the problem or the need to be met. Your outline of
context should be easy to understand so you can keep referring to it later in the design process.

The role, purpose, structure and components of a design brief, including a situation or
context and constrants and considerations:

COMPONENTS:
- Outline of context
When making an outline of context, check that it defines a design problem rather than a description or
solution to a product as this can limit creativity. This should include the who, what, when, where, why, and
how of a product as well as its end-user.

- Constraints and Considerations

Constraints are an aspect of the design that are absolute and cannot be changed, whereas considerations are
things to be thought about but not necessarily included. Having too many constraints/considerations can be
detrimental to the product design process as it limits a designer's creativity, so make sure only to include
what you believe is required. Constraints and considerations must be specific to the problem and not vague
or too general.

THE ROLE:
- DB: Outline the design problem and requirements, parameters and considerations
- Context: explains problem to be solved, what appeals, who will use it, where it will be used, how often,
when
- Constraints: Explains aspects that can’t be changed, boundaries, limitations
- Considerations: Considered, harder to define, require research

PURPOSE:
- ContextàHave background information of the context and problem, requirements, priorities,
expectations
- Constraints àoutline needs that must be fulfilled
- Considerations àOutline wants that could be filled

Evaluation criteria:
The evaluation criteria provide a way for you to assess how well you have met the requirements from your
design brief. They are always written in the form of questions and allow the designer to evaluate the final
product to see if it has met its intended needs. When making evaluation criteria, the questions should always
come from the design brief you constructed.

The relationship between the design brief, evaluation criteria, research and product design
development activities
• Design brief (context+ CC) sets out problem needing to be solved
• Shows client/end user wants and needs
• Requirements established
• Sets down in writing the specification for both parties (client and designer)
• Priorities worked out (details of the design brief + expectations of finished product)
• Constraints and considerations weighted to determine which needs are evaluated on
• Designer follows product design process after this
• Often begins with research and idea experimentation
AOS 2: Product development in industry
Research and Development (R&D):
What is R&D?:
R&D is scientific and technical research that explores and improves materials, mechanisms, manufacturing
systems, and much more. To create high quality end products, there needs to be a high level of proficiency
in design, and R&D is often what will give a company an advantage over others in their field. R&D is
scientific and technical, usually about the product, what it is made of or how it can be made. The Australian
Bureau of Statistics (ABS) website defines R&D as: “systematic investigation or experimentation involving innovation or
technical risk, the outcome of which is new knowledge, with or without a specific practical application, or new or improved
products, processes, materials, devices or services.”

The role of R&D and importance for industry:

Many industries around the world invest their money into research and development, as it is important to
remain competitive in a global market. Strong employment equates with increased consumer spending,
which contributes to even more employment. This in turn contributes to the welfare of society and 'quality of
life. Strong economic growth helps to raise living standards by stimulating enterprise, encouraging
innovation and providing a positive environment for technological progress - all leading to an increase in
employment and investment. To combat this, many companies aim to be innovative in the area of design.
While they may get their products manufactured offshore, they invest money and energy into making sure
their designs are 'top notch'. This provides the company with a competitive advantage. To be competitive,
innovation is required - not just in products, but in processes and systems. This requires big investment in
education, training, capital equipment, and research into new materials and current technologies.
R&D is a crucial step in product development as it allows designers to have a competitive edge on the
market and produce high quality products that are improvements of previous and existing models to better
suit their target audience. This is usually done by a specialised team in a corporation and is a risky financial
investment as successful outcomes are not guaranteed. R&D is a repeated experimentation process and
generates competition in the product market.

Forms of R&D: The activities that are classified as R&D differ from company to company, but they are
related to developing either new products or new knowledge. According to the Australian Tax Office, R&D
activities must be core or supporting. Core R&D activities must be experiments; they can take place in a
laboratory or on a factory floor and are for the purpose of discovering new knowledge (not already
available). Supporting activities are not experiments but are those activities that directly link to core
activities, i.e. inform the experiment.

Some of the forms that R&D can take are:

- inventing or developing new materials or new uses for materials (e.g. lighter, stronger, warmer, more elastic)
- looking at materials developed in other fields (e.g. food and medicine) and determining their suitability
- developing new equipment and machinery
- developing new ICT (writing the code and testing) in design and product manufacture.
- It is important to note that market research and market testing are not considered R&D by the Australian Tax
Office for tax incentives, as methods used are not normally experiments.
- Use the link for a clear guide on R&D activities and those which are not eligible, and search for The R&D
Tax Incentive - A Guide to Interpretation' published by AusIndustry.
- Experiments that take place in a lab and are for the purpose of discovering new knowledge
- Inventing or developing new materials so they have more desirable qualities (e.g. lighter, stronger, more
insulation properties)
- Looking at materials in other fields (medicine, food) and seeing if it Is compatible for the product (suitability)
- Developing new equipment, machinery and/or ICT to aid product development
 Planned Obsolescence:
What is obsolescence?
Obsolescence is when a product becomes obsolete. This is for various reasons, such as when it:
- is no longer useful or useable
- is out of date cannot be used with current technology is replaced by another product that is more
efficient.
Planned obsolescence: Planned obsolescence refers to a strategy employed by manufacturers to
intentionally design and produce products with a limited lifespan or a planned expiration date. The goal
behind this approach is to encourage consumers to repurchase or upgrade their products more frequently,
generating consistent sales for the company.

Planned obsolescence is considered to be inbuilt, i.e. it is in the design. There are three types of planned
obsolescence:
- Functional
- technical
- style
Planned obsolescence is when manufacturers design a product to be obsolete within a few months or a few
years. Manufacturers have a vested interest in making a product that has a limited life - a consumer will then
buy another to replace it. However, this type of approach can be blamed for some very negative impacts on
the environment and society. Consequently, more and more designers want to or are being encouraged to
think sustainably and to follow a strategy such as those outlined under 'Sustainability models' (sometimes led
by consumer demand for more sustainable products).

Consumer Producer Environment and society

Benefits
Products are cheap Economic benefits for Increased employment and wealth
manufacturers and retailers (more for the community
Products are easily replaced
products sold)
Increased level of hygiene through
Consumers can feel up to date'
Business can keep evolving use of disposable products (e.g
Products can be more efficient and medical, food)
Staff can be 'up-skilled"
labour-saving
Many products make life easier and
more enjoyable for people
Problems
Products don't last Need to invest in re-skilling and Increase in waste - more rubbish in
new technology (both costly) landfill
Products cannot be repaired, or are
difficult to repair Constant attention to the product Contributes to pollution of air,
development process water and land
Replacement costs can be high
Uses up resources - materials, water,
etc.
Requires a lot of energy
Functional obsolescence – is when a low-quality process is used deliberately so the product breaks down
quickly.
- The predominant reason is cost - materials that are more durable are often more expensive to source,
to work with during production, and to transport. This shortens the life of a product. Such products
become disposable - they cannot be repaired and must be thrown away if something goes wrong. In
terms of future sales and the company's reputation, a certain level of quality and durability must be
maintained, otherwise customers will not feel they are getting value for money. It is a fine balancing
act.
Technical obsolescence – is when new technologies become present in our lives and surpasses the
technology used in the existing product.
- It is not considered important to make the casings of some electronic or digital devices good quality,
as the technology within them is likely to be surpassed by a more advanced technology within a very
short time.
Style obsolescence – is when there is a changing nature of trends and the product is no longer used.
- Products go through regular changes in appearance and style, which induces people to replace the
older-styled product with something more fashionable. Different types of products have fashion
cycles of differing lengths. Clothing fashions change every six to 12 months, but for products with an
longer life – such as furniture – fashions and trends change more gradually and over an longer
period. Trend, fashion and colour forecasting are tools that some designers use to make their designs
current and desirable.

Scales of manufacturing systems:

One-off products: are made by one person and to a very high standard. They are suitable for those who
want a custom-made item that may not be readily available to purchase.
Low volume: is when a small number of products are made, usually for a scenario. Customer needs change
often and this allows flexibility so mistakes can be made without lots of investment loss. This is financially
beneficial as manufactures can easily respond to change and adapt their designs.
High volume: manufacturing, also known as mass production, is when there is a large demand for a
certain product. It is cheaper when large amounts are purchased however, it is time consuming and requires
a large investment. The processes involved are usually standardised and inflexible. For manufacturers, this
scale of manufacturing is most beneficial for the economy, however, it is quite costly, time consuming, and
risky.
Continuous production: occurs when a factory runs 24/7. Automation and robotics are involved in this
manufacturing process and it is very hard to change the way things run. Unlike one off production where
you are flexible in the production process, continuous production does not allow you to do this.
New and emerging technologies:
Laser technology: Laser technology can be used for one-off, low volume, and high-volume productions.
As laser technology uses monochromatic light, it can cut materials easily and is safer than alternative cutting
methods that have been used in the past. As the light is used to cut through multiple layers, it also saves time,
energy, and reduces waste compared to traditional methods. The accuracy and precision of this new
technology allows designers to produce more detailed and complex designs for the market. Beyond this, laser
technology also has applications beyond cutting materials, such as taking accurate measurements of objects
from a distance. Influence on design: Laser technology allows for more detail and complexity in designs
that might have been avoided in the past for reasons of safety, accuracy and time.
Fibre optics and the microchip: The two most important developments from last century are fire optics
and microchips.
Fibre optics: A fibre-optic cable holds many fibres and may go from suburb to suburb or country to
country (under the sea. 'They have a vastlv increased amount of bandwidth (for transfer of data) compared
with copper wire.
Integrated circuits (ICs): ICs, or miniaturised electronic circuits - commonly known as microchips were
originally a simple circuit the size of an adult's finger (consisting of one transistor, three resistors, one
capacitor and connected wiring on a piece An integrated circuit of silicon). Today, an IC smaller than a 5-
cent coin can hold 125 million transistors. Consider that the first computers in the 1960s needed an entire
room to house them, whereas today computers are so small that some can be held in the hand. Not only are
computers now much smaller, they are capable of doing a lot more and at a faster rate. They can take
photos and send and receive data e.g. users can do their banking and watch live football at the same time
without any wiring at all. Almost all modern products use IC technology and, due to the amazingly small
size of modern ICs, products can be made smaller and smaller. At the same time, battery technology has also
come a long way; they too have become smaller and more powerful. This is another factor that allows
products to be smaller, as they don't need to house big batteries. Along with all the new electronic products
comes a market for accessories, e.g. handbags with pockets for mobile phones, snazzy colourful shoulder
bags for laptop computers, and special niches inside vehicles. Telephone conversations or information signals
(from computers) are converted into light using a laser and the beam is sent along a tiny optical fibre. This
fibre is rather like a very thin glass tube, and when light reaches the other end of the tube, it is converted
back into a signal by a demodulator.
Robotics: Robotics are quite like lasers as they can perform tasks accurately and with high levels of
precision. Today, robotics are a central part of the manufacturing industry as they can perform dangerous
tasks in a quick manner repetitively and accurately. They have a big influence on designs today, as they can
be programmed for different types of work, are flexible, and can be adjusted if changes are made throughout
the process. Influence on design: Robotics allows previously 'unsafe' procedures to be included in the
construction of products. Robots can have different programs easily uploaded and can be programmed for
smaller production batches, making them more flexible and responsive to consumer demand.
Computer-aided design (CAD): CAD, which stands dan devous asians digaily based on skelches that
roansy to creato designs. Using CAD sofiware, we can develop designs digitally based on skelches that can be
sent easily to others for effective communication. As these are digital 3D models, it is easy to modity them
through feedback and create a scaled design. This helps to improve he product and it the designer, reduce
costs and orons through the designing stages. CAD is an efficient, precise, and accurate simulation, meaning
that when designing, we can change designs quickly and readjust to the user's needs. There are many CAD
drawing programs, such as TurboCAD, Google SketchUp, AutoCAD®, Intercad, Pro/Engineer,
SolidWorks and CATIA. All of them allow for 3D visualisation, which reduces costs and development times.
Influence on design: CAD allows changes to designs to be implemented quickly and accurately; avoiding
errors in calculations. Designs can be emailed for immediate feedback, easily adjusted and stored
electronically. This is a huge advantage over designs drawn and stored on paper or being sent by mail.
Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM):CAM, which stands for computer-aided manufacturing, is
closely linked with CAD as it uses digital information from these designs and transfers it to manufacturing
systems. With the CAD and CAM software, you can create instructions in CAD and then transfer them into
CAM which programs them to control lasers and certain machine tools. It has the exact same advantages for
product design as CAD does: it reduces waste, has high accuracy, and can be changed quickly when
needed.Rip Curl, for example, uses the Lectra system to create CAD files, which are emailed to their factory
in Thailand. Once the files are received in Thailand, the Lectra system (CAM) calculates the amount of
material needed and creates instructions for manufacturing. Influence on design: CAM allows designs to
become concrete speedily, increases accuracy by removing opportunities for human error, reduces material
wastage and overlaps with the benefits of CAM
Computer numerical control (CNC): CNG. which stands for computer numerical control, is another
program that works in conjunction with CAD and CAM. ONG is used for complex steps, which has allowed
the manufacturing industry to decrease the number of steps completed by humans. The automation of
machines allows ONC to operate in a systematic way and perform certain tasks such as cutting, bending,
spinning, sewing, sawing, and much more. All three computer programs (CAD, CAM, and CNC) allow for
faster results without posing a risk to human lite, and provide increased flexibility in the industry. Influence
on design: CNC contributes to faster results and therefore easy updates to designs.
Rapid prototyping (3D printing): Rapid prototyping, also known as 3D printing, is when a program
can construct a 3D prototype quickly and efficiently. CAD once again is used in this technology, then the 3D
design is sent to a printer to be constructed. Each printer works different and has a primary material it uses
to construct these models. As these prototypes can be made repeatedly, it can test out new ideas which in the
long run, can save a company money as well as help to reduce waste and time. Also, as these designs can be
printed out quickly, the product can be tested and adjusted to its optimal design. Influence on design: A
prototype of a design can be 'printed' literally overnight, examined, trialled and tested, and adjustments
made almost immediately - again, a process that may previously have taken months.
New materials: The world of materials changes almost on a daily basis. New materials are constantly
being developed by scientists, industry and individuals all over the globe. Some of these developments are
radical and innovative, while others are incremental.
Examples :

- miniature circuitry in fabric that can create materials capable or carrving dvnamic messages. graphics or
multicoloured surfaces
- fabrics that detect changes in heat or heart rate
- fibres filled with silver to be used to create bandages for burns
- plastics such as polycarbonate that are flexible, strong and easily dyed
- metals that can be moulded like plastic, made from alloys of zirconium, nickel, titanium and copper
- wood/plastic composites made from plastics, such as those found in old carpet fibres, and low-grade wood waste
- various crops that can be processed into fabric, such as sov, bamboo and corn
- carbon fibre - a light, flexible and extremely strong material that is usually used in a composite with other
materials: used in biccles and planes, etc.
- Many new materials are patented or trademarked. Examples are:
- Recopol™ - a solid material made from e-waste such as computer casings, telephones and printer cartridges
- Poron® - cushion material used in shoe soles that is cushioning, flexible and breathable
- SPS MAX - used by Blundstone in the soles of boots. It includes XRD® Extreme Impact Protection, a
lightweight, thin and breathable cushioning material that's engineered for repeated impact and shock absorption
- Kevlar® - a bulletproof fabric, developed by Dupont, that is also used in jeans for motorbike riders, chainsaw
operators, etc
Lean manufacturing:
Lean manufacturing is a process which aims to improve the manufacturing process, reduce costs any waste.
Waste can come in many forms, such as time, movement, errors, or doubling up on tasks. There are many
methods we can use to implement lean manufacturing methods in our manufacturing industry.
Lean manufacturing methods include:
- Catering to actual demand, not just to projected demand: this means that you only
manufacture what is needed which helps to prevent a surplus of products. Not only do you give the
customer what they want, you are also helping the environment because wasteful excess stock is not
produced.
- Using low volume production: manufacturers are in full control of the amount they produce and
can increase to larger amounts if necessary. Low volume production allows for flexibility and can
adapt to change if an issue were to arise, thereby reducing waste.
- Being efficient and organised: examples could be using IT systems or having a clean
environment to increase efficiency.
- Cell production: having different teams (cells) focus on a certain aspect in the production process
as well as working together can reduce waste.

Flexible and responsive manufacturing:

Flexible and responsive manufacturing, sometimes known as agile manufacturing, is when manufacturers are
flexible enough to change the production process without major complications. As it is easy to respond to
changes, this helps businesses waste less and can lead to a faster turnaround on products.
Why are these methods necessary?
Lean manufacturing aims to be efficient for companies and help maintain income by focusing on the present
market. Having this manufacturing system will allow companies to have little waste and maximise their
profit because of their sustainable choices to not overload on products that may not potentially sell. To
become a lean manufacturer, companies should aim to receive feedback on their products, so they have
places to improve and don't acquire excess stock. If a company were to change their product slightly and had
leftover stock of the older product, they may end up unable to use or sell the older stock, meaning this
potentially viable materials would go to waste.
Product development process:
The product development process is a concept-to-product process that involves mass production. This
process is a cycle just like the product design process Steps can always be revisited and they work with each
other to create a final result.
- Identify the need and define the concept: an end-user's needs have not been met and a new of
improved product is needed. To do this, patents wil need to be assessed so that new concepis can be
designed or existing ones can be improved.
- Research - both market and product
- Product design, planning and prototype: the product is designed using computer modelling
software. Careful designing must be done, and the financial side needs to be transparent.
- Selecting a supply chain/manufacturer and calculating costs: picking the right supplier
requires financial evaluation of things like freight costs but can also factor into decisions surrounding
sustainability (e.g. does the manufacturer work with eco-friendly materials? How much waste is
produced in their manufacturing or shipping processes?).
- Production and distribution: the product is then produced and put into units. Throughout this
stage, the quality and source of materials are closely monitored as part of quality assurance (QA) or
quality control (QG) checks.
- Marketing: advertising and getting the product out there' in the market.
- Retail and consumer use: users buy the new product and use it until it becomes obsolete. They
will then seek an alternative or modify it, hence why market research is needed so the original
product can improve.
- Product evaluation and modification: at the end of the cycle, market research and customer
feedback is used to make a new and improved product. If a manufacturer wants to introduce large
changes into the product, the cycle starts from the top again.
Design and innovation:
Design are also highly important. Without innovation, it is almost impossible to produce high quality
products that have a competitive edge. Innovation can come in many different forms such as how the
product itself was constructed (e.g. design, technologies, sustainability) and the marketing/distribution it
went through. The possibilities and methods for innovation are endless! Businesses need to use design
thinking to make improvements on existing products and/or create new and innovative products to satisfy
the needs of an end-user. Design thinking also allows businesses to use improved processes, services and
systems which can benefit the customer. There is a distinct connection between the product development
process and market research. Both allow us to find out information about who might want the product,
features they want, how much they are willing to pay, how to reach the audience, get feedback in the
marketplace and use this to develop or improve upon a product.
Sustainability frameworks:
Sustainability is when we can meet our needs without compromising all forms of life. When we talk about
sustainability, we need to address three pillars: social, economic, and environmental systems.
Social: refers to how people are affected such as their health, safety, working standards, practices, and
relationships.
Economics: is about the need to make a profit but not if doing so involves unfair or predatory business
practices.
Environmental: considers how animals and plant life are affected.
Design Production Distribution Marketing
Reusable, recyclable/ Re-use waste Consider low-pollution Certification strategies
biodegradable materials transportation methods like LCA/C2C in
Limit toxic outputs
promotion
Joining methods allow Streamline distribution
Label materials for easy
for easy disassembly. channels Promotes how resources
identification and
produce less waste
update machinery

Life cycle analysis/assessment (LCA):

LCA is a framework where we carefully look at the impact a product has over the course of its life, in
particular the environmental side. The information gained from CA needs to be highly accurate and
scientific which can be extremely costly to an individual. As there are multiple stages that need to be
examined, conducting an LCA can become time
consuming.
Stages of LCA:
- Obtaining raw material (sources/extracting)
- Processing it (water, energy, waste)
- Manufacturing products (water, energy, waste)
- Transport and distribution
- Product use
- Product disposal
LGA can influence the design and manufacturing of a product. In the design area it can influence the
materials used. The impact of that material - in terms of energy, waste, and side effects of use - also has to
be considered, In the manufacturing area, methods are chosen to reduce any possible waste. For instance,
when choosing an energy source, manufacturers Wilt often analyse the carbon footprint of a particular
method or technology. LCA also has an influence on marketing as their product can be backed up by
scientific evidence and may be more appealing to customers if it is sustainably produced.

Cradle-to-cradle concept (C2C): Cradle-to-cradle is a recycling plan for when a product reaches the
end of its life. It aims to reuse the materials that were originally in the product to reduce the amount of
potential landfill waste. There are two main options for C2C production: biological recycling (where
materials are composted) or technical recycling (where materials are reused/recycled). C2C influences the
design of a product as materials must be carefully selected (reusable or biodegradable) to avoid the product
ending up in landfill and polluting the environment. In the manufacturing stages, C2c generally does not use
toxic chemicals as they are harmful and harder to reuse. Just like LGA, scientific support and effective
labelling of materials can also influence marketing of the product and be a selling point for customers.
Design for disassembly (DD): Design for disassembly is when we consider how each part of a product is
joined and look at it as an overall piece. When using DfD as a sustainability framework, the goal is to use
minimal material, non-permanent joints, label each piece for easy disassembly, and make sure that the
product is easy to repair. Since the product will be disassembled at the end of its life, each piece needs to
come off easily and be identified accurately for future use. DfD influences the design of a product as it
restricts the number of different materials used and the paints/finishes allowed in the product for easy
recycling. Using DfD in the manufacturing stages means that permanent joints such as glue are avoided, and
each part is labelled carefully so it can be reused once the product is no longer useful. In the marketing area,
promoting recycling and careful notation of labeling individual materials can help the product stand out in
the market.

Extended producer responsibility (EP)/product stewardship:

Extended producer responsibility, also known as product stewardship is when the people involved with the
product have a shared responsibility over the environmental impact is causes. To achieve this, they select
materials carefully so that they can be re-used/recycled just like the C2C and DD design stages. If a product
cannot be re-used/recycled, there are clear instructions for ensuring a safe and organised disposal. Just like
the previous three sustainability frameworks, PR also has an influence on design and manufacturing. For
design, EPR also follows DD principles as well as endeavouring to design products that can be repaired in
the future. In the manufacturing stages, it aims to produce a high quality finish with professional methods
and recycle any waste. In the marketing area, EPR shares the same labelling and recycling initiatives as DD.
BRAND RESEARCH: Outerknown

Use of R&D by ‘Outerknown”: Utilising research and development, Outerknown collaborates with various
partners, including Fair trade, Textile Exchange, Fair labour association and Sustainable Apparel Coalition to explore
innovative materials and manufacturing techniques that minimize environmental and ethical impact while
maintaining high-quality standards, “sustainability and style run hand-in-hand”

Examples: Since 2019 Outerknown has adapted the highly disposed item carpeting as a recycled fibre in their
collection. After extensive research throughout 2018 into carpeting it became noted that 3.5 BILLION pounds of
carpeting every year in the U.S. alone and the majority gets landfilled or incinerated, and less than 5% is currently
recycled. By using regenerated nylon, Outerknown help keep waste out of our ocean and landfills, they cut back on
fossil fuels as virgin nylon is derived from petroleum. The final product they use is 100% regenerated, 100%
regenerable, without any quality lost in the process.

Outerknown strives for innovation throughout their brand, with the motivation to change the unethical fashion
industry. In 2021 Outerknown opened an unique market sustainable materials and an hopeful future for our
environment, launching their 100% recycled hat brims. This product uses discarded fishnets which pollute our seas
and helps reduce the 3.2 million plus pounds of plastic in the ocean. Around 8 million metric tons of plastic enter the
global ocean every year, and around 10% comes from the fishing industry. Regrettably, much of this material ends up
in the environment, as many landfills in developing regions are privatized and costly. Unfortunately, today’s synthetic
nets break down into microplastics and continue to do what they were designed to drift along and trap sea life.
Outerknown’s partner Bureo collect, clean, and process nets into pre-production NetPlus® pellets that are 100%
recycled and 100% traceable. By swapping virgin plastic for NetPlus Outerknown lowers their carbon emissions while
keeping fishing nets from polluting our ocean.

How do these method of R&D lead to design innovation during the product development process:
Through continuous research, experimentation, and collaboration, Outerknown aims to push the boundaries of
sustainable fashion and create clothing that combines style, functionality, and environmental responsibility. Outer
known sees no sustainable efforts as out of reach and takes any possible measure to ensure they brand is always
evolving in an positive direction. Their R&D efforts enable them to stay at the forefront of sustainable apparel and
contribute to the overall advancement of the industry.
New and Emerging technologies: Outerknown uses emerging technologies and or materials to manufacture or
incorporate into their products: Recycled Fabrics: Outerknown leverages advanced recycling techniques to
transform post-consumer waste, such as plastic bottles or discarded garments, into high-quality textiles. The benefits
of the emerging technologies and materials for Outerknown (manufacturer) and their customer (end-user) are
- Enhanced Brand Reputation: Outerknown's adoption of sustainable materials distinguishes them as an
eco-conscious company, appealing to environmentally conscious consumers. By showcasing their commitment
to sustainability, they attract a growing market segment that values ethical and sustainable fashion.
- Improved Comfort and Quality: Sustainable materials often offer superior comfort, breathability, and
durability, providing customers with high-quality garments. Outerknown's use of such fabrics ensures that
their products not only align with their environmental ethos but also meet customers' expectations for comfort
and longevity.
The importance of MARKET RESEARCH for Outer known: One method of market research used by
OuterKnown, a clothing company founded by professional surfer Kelly Slater, is conducting customer surveys and
feedback collection. This approach helps OuterKnown to determine the end-users' needs during the product
development process. OuterKnown may start by designing a questionnaire or survey to gather valuable insights from
their target market. They can distribute these surveys through various channels, such as their website, social media
platforms, or email newsletters. The survey questions are carefully crafted to extract information about customer
preferences, needs, and expectations related to clothing and fashion.
Planned obsolescence in outerknown: As for Outterknown, it is a clothing company founded by professional surfer
Kelly Slater and designer John Moore. The company places a strong emphasis on sustainability and ethical practices in the
fashion industry. Outterknown aims to create durable, high-quality garments that are designed to last. Outterknown has
been recognized for its commitment to sustainability and transparency. They prioritize using eco-friendly materials,
implementing fair labor practices, and minimizing their environmental impact. As such, it is unlikely that Outterknown
deliberately employs planned obsolescence in their products, as it would contradict their core values and sustainable
approach to fashion. However, products that have purchased by consumers can be returned to the company for resale or
the fabric will be upcycled into another product that may be of a more current style.

Sustainability: A sustainability system/model utilised by Outerknown influences the product the product
development – Product Lifecycle Analysis: The sustainability system employed by Outerknown involves analyzing the
entire lifecycle of their products, from design to disposal. This analysis helps identify areas where improvements can be
made, such as reducing energy consumption during manufacturing or implementing take-back programs for recycling
or repurposing used garments. By considering the entire product lifecycle, Outerknown aims to create products with a
reduced environmental impact.
Scale of Manufacturing: It's important to note that Outterknown's specific manufacturing strategies may vary, and
they may employ a combination of different scales depending on the product type, market demand, and their
commitment to sustainability and ethical practices. For example, Outterknown has been known to use low-volume
production for certain collections or specialized garments that are produced in limited quantities, such as a small batch
of sustainably made denim jeans. But have also adopted mass or high-volume production for its core clothing lines,
producing significant quantities of t-shirts, hoodies, or other popular items to meet market demand.
Low-volume production can bring several sustainability benefits and challenges for both the manufacturer,
Outterknown, and its end-users. Here's a description of one social, one economic, and one environmental
sustainability benefit and problem associated with low-volume production:

Lean Manufacturing: Lean manufacturing methods can benefit the product development process of Outterknown,
a clothing company, Lean manufacturing methods benefit the product development process of Outterknown by
reducing waste, improving quality, accelerating time-to-market, enhancing collaboration, promoting flexibility and
adaptability, and reducing costs. These benefits result in a more efficient and effective product development process,
leading to better products and higher customer satisfaction. Other key benefits:
Reduced Waste - Faster Time-to-Market - improved Quality - Enhanced Collaboration - Flexibility and Adaptability -
Cost Reduction
Social Sustainability Benefit: Unique and Customized Products: Low-volume production allows Outterknown to
offer unique and customized products to its customers. This creates a sense of exclusivity and personalization,
enhancing the overall shopping experience and customer satisfaction.

Benefit: By providing unique and customized options, Outterknown promotes individuality and self-expression,
enabling customers to feel a stronger connection with the brand and their clothing choices.
Economic Sustainability Problem: Higher Production Costs: Low-volume production often involves higher
production costs compared to mass production. This is primarily due to the need for more manual labour, specialized
equipment, and a less efficient production process.
Problem: The higher production costs associated with low-volume production can lead to increased prices for the
end-users. This may limit accessibility to Outterknown's products for certain consumers, potentially making
sustainable and ethical clothing less affordable for a broader audience.
Environmental Sustainability Benefit: Reduced Waste and Overproduction: Low-volume production helps
minimize waste and overproduction. Since products are made in smaller quantities, there is less likelihood of excess
inventory or unsold items, reducing the environmental impact associated with textile waste.
Benefit: By adopting low-volume production, Outterknown can better align production with demand, reducing the
need for large-scale manufacturing that can contribute to overconsumption and the generation of textile waste. This
supports the company's commitment to environmental sustainability and reduces its carbon footprint.
UNIT 4 AOS 1: Product analysis and comparison
Evaluating commercial products:
The word attributes is interchangeable with features and refers to the characteristics and qualities
of a product. When evaluating a product the first thing that consumers, designers and manufacturers need to
do is define the attributes or features that the product should or could have. Note that the distinction
between 'need' and 'want' is important, as it helps prioritise what is essential.

The attributes or features of a product can be defined by the product design factors.
Different attributes of a product include:

- its primary function, and the secondary functions that add to or enhance it
- how it performs or operates (functions), its reliability and quality
- its user-friendliness or how it suits the user's need, ergonomic and safety features
- whether it is innovative - a really new type of product
- how it appeals to the user visually, tactilely (to touch) and aesthetically, etc.
- the materials used and how suitable they are for the target market (or end-user)
- its environmental, social and economic impacts
- its cost/value, timing on the market
- the quality of its construction.
-
Soft vs hard attributes: The attributes of a product are sometimes categorised as soft relating to the
subjective, more aesthetic, perception-based and philosophical aspects of design -and hard, or relating to the
functional, utilitarian and measurable aspects of design.

Prioritising attributes:
the product type: For some types of products, function and quality are critical and are what the product is
judged by. For others, the aesthetics or look of the product is of a higher priority.
the user: What you want from a product will depend on what sort of person you are. The needs and desires
of the user change depending on their background, income or willingness to spend, values, tastes and life
stage.

From an end-user's perspective, the product must satisfy their needs:

- function very well, and fully satisfy their needs match their idea of what looks good (their aesthetics)
- last long
- represent good value
- incorporate the latest technology as improvement

Manufacturers, on the other hand, want products that not only function well but can create a profit for
the company. They also want to construct a brand with high credibility and become well known in the
industry:
- function well
- create a profit
- are efficient to make
- create and retain brand credibility and style become popular.

It is the designer's role to recognise these different and sometimes conflicting priorities and seek to balance
and satisfy them as best they can. Products that are successfully designed achieve that balance between the
needs of the customer and the needs of the manufacturer and retailer.
New products:
When a product becomes old', our values around it start to change. We will now look at the life cycle of a
product and see how these values change overtime. Users of new products will typically value function,
originality, and innovation, and may have a stronger emotional connection to the product than they would if
it were old. Manufacturers meanwhile may value aesthetic (eye-catching) features or unique selling points
that allow them to sell the new product at a highly profitable price.

Slightly used products:

At this point, users want the product to still be functional and have an appearance that won't go out of
fashion. However, the degree of emotional investment changes as a product becomes slightly used. For
instance, when you drop your phone and cause it to have a crack, we become less emotionally attached in
comparison to when we first bought it. As a product begins to experience wear and tear, users may consider
replacing it. On the other hand, antiques are products that are heavily cherished when they are older -
sometimes, the older a product becomes, the more value it has in another person's eyes. Manufacturers will
still place value on the sale numbers of the product and its enduring ability to be appealing.

Old products:
Once a product has lived on the market for a long time, users expect it to be reliable and have 'evergreen'
features. By this time, the product may become obsolete and users will look for an innovative alternative on
the market. Manufacturers will most likely create another similar product with new technologies integrated
into its design.

How products are evaluated:

Products can be assessed and evaluated using a wide variety of methods and tools.

Qualitative - descriptive information about experiences or stories, usually sourced from individuals or
small groups; provides complex data that is hard to classify, but provides a detailed picture; the information
is usually subjective. It is usually written statements that take a long time to interpret for the purpose of
identifying and evaluating trends.Methods of qualitative data include:
- Talking to people and observing how they interact with the product
- Constructing in-depth interviews with people to see the pros and cons of a product
- Asking a wide range of open-ended questions to maximise data on the product (e.g. What are things
you dislike about the product? Do you have any problems using it?)

Quantitative - numerical information sourced from a large number of people; simple data that is easy to
classify and useful for generalising trends; it is measurable, objective and can be tested. Quantitative data can
be easily presented in graphs and charts.

Market research = qualitative or quantitative

Sales and returns = quantitative
Comparing specifications = usually quantitative
User trials and testing = qualitative and quantitative
Quality of a product:
Quality means how well a product meets the needs, wants, and functions of the end-user. Quality is
impacted by different features working together to serve a purpose. Factors that contribute to quality are:

- Materials: the characteristics and properties used, and their durability and suitability for the
product's main function.
- Design: the design of a product though its ergonomic features, comfort levels, performance, and
function.
- Aesthetics: the form, texture, and shape of a product.
- Finishes: the type of finish in both texture and appearance of a product.
- Construction/joining methods: the way a product is constructed which can impact durability,
strength, or accuracy.
- Certification: that cover quality or environmental and social concerns. Such certification means
that the products, the materials they are made from or the manufacturer's systems have been assessed
and meet recognised standards. This provides evidence that these products are 'good' in those areas,
and can be used as a basis for making comparisons with other products.

A poorly made product will likely become defective sooner and end up in landfill more quickly, which costs
money for the consumer as they must replace it. Not only does this have negative consequences for
companies and their brand reputation, but it also creates substantial environmental problems, especially for
non-renewable or non-recyclable materials. Manufacturers are also disadvantaged as they may have to recall
a product because of its poor quality, making them lose large amounts of money.

Environmental, economic, and social issues with products:

Environmental:
When creating a product, manufacturers may require large amounts of material, energy, land, water, and
other finite resources. Not only does this create waste, but it also depletes our supplies which can cause a
strain on the environment. During the production process, pollution is created causing an increase in carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere. There may be other harmful byproducts like carcinogenic substances and toxic
chemicals which can pollute our land (land toxicity) and natural resources. Other problems to consider are
land degradation due to erosion, soil depletion and/or salinity, and reduced water quality which threatens
our biodiversity.

Economic:
When you walk into a store, you may notice some products at insanely cheap prices. If something looks too
good to be true, you may want to consider researching the brand and their practices. Manufacturers can
take advantage of workers and pay them low wages. This is especially common in developing countries.Such
practices will usually result in high profit due to worker exploitation, however, it will cause great economic
impact later down the track, leading to social and environmental problems. To ensure economic
sustainability, there should be transparent finances and a fair pay for all workers. Although a product may
cost more, this ensures everyone in the production process is not disadvantaged.
Social:
As a customer, you can change the life of workers by purchasing ethically made products. When workers are
forced to work long hours without a break in an unsafe environment, this causes a risk to the worker's health.
Therefore, we must be careful about the products we buy, as purchasing from a company that puts their
workers in dangerous conditions effectively supports that company's exploitative business practices, creating
an endless, unfair cycle.
We also need to consider where a product is produced, as some developing countries do not have the same
high safety regulations that developed countries do. In some developing countries, workers are not trained
properly and may have to deal with toxic chemicals or dangerous equipment. There are also instances where
cultural land is purposely harvested for natural resources, impacting the people's everyday life and traditions.
When things are done correctly, there can be a positive side to social sustainability. Companies that want to
be associated with a strong positive social sustainability critically choose the materials they use, and some
may 'give back' to the community.
Comparing products:
To compare products effectively, it is helpful to begin with set criteria. The criteria need to be based on:
- the context
- the user
- the user's requirements
- the attributes of this product type that would suit their needs.
- Use the product design factors to assist you in creating the criteria.

identify and assess:

- the primary function or purpose, and the specific needs of the specified user and the context in
which they will use this type of product
- aesthetics the look and the feel that will appeal to the target market or specific end-user
- quality list the specific quality indicators such as material, construction, components and level of
design expected by this user
- price what would be value for money?
- sustainability think about environmental, social and economic issues that interest the user and that
might relate to:
1. stages of the product's life (e.g. materials sourcing, production, transportation)
2. the supply chain and treatment of workers and communities
3. whether the product provides a social benefit, such as connecting with others or improving one's
health.

Using criteria for testing and comparing:

products are tested against, or compared with, similar products using a variety of methods to provide
feedback, observations and data for analysis and judgement.
- comparing and testing product specifications (sizes, shapes, capacity, etc.)
- visual checking - observation and comparison
- trialling the product in controlled situations (where you manage the conditions and each test is the
same or in real-life situations
- group discussions - similar to a focus group, where the products and how they might be used are
discussed and opinions are shared
- questionnaires - writing questions about the products for other people to answer (some will ask
'users' to score an attribute out of 10 for quantitative data and some will ask their reaction or feeling
about the product for qualitative data)
- research - finding out information about certification; materials; and environmental, social and
economic issues.
When you compare and evaluate the products according to the criteria you have developed, make sure you
use both qualitative and quantitative methods of checking and testing.

To compare products against the criteria you have developed, you need to make judgements about how
each of the products satisfy the criteria. You need to have evidence or reasoning to inform and support your
judgements.

Most conclusions can be made by a visual comparison of the products, but important information to have
for a comparison would include:
information that allows you to judge each product's quality
- relevant specifications such as size and capacity
- the price
- the materials, where the product was made, etc.