Cie design and technology
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4 5 2.1 RESEARCH 2.1 RESEARCH 2.1 Research IDENTIFY CONSTRAINTS LEARNING OBJECTIVES By the end of this section you should: ✓ Know how to brainstorm a problem ✓ Understand the importance of research in the design cycle ✓ Understand what types of sources designers use when starting to design a product ✓ Understand how to analyze existing products THE IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH IN DESIGN An important part of the design process is the research a designer does to collect all the relevant information they need in order to create a new product. This research should form the foundation of any new product and is a vital part of the design development system. Research can be time-consuming and often only a fraction of the information collected is actually used in the final design process. Brainstorming is a useful starting point and it is helpful to get some initial thoughts down on paper. Market research is often carried out by companies who invest a great deal of money and time in discovering exactly what it is that people want, and designers use this to help them develop new products that meet the needs of their customers. BRAINSTORMING Designers use brainstorming to help them work out what they need to do in order to begin a project. The designer usually does this after the client has given them a design brief. Below is an example of some brainstorming a designer has done after they have been given a design brief for a DVD storage unit. This diagram shows the many different areas the designer needs to investigate before they can start designing their product. ∆ Initial handwritten brainstorm design process: every stage that needs to happen in order to create a new product, from the design brief, all the way through to the evaluation of the final product brainstorming: generating ideas and suggestions, and noting down all possible areas that need to be investigated at the start of a project market research: collecting and studying information about what people want, need and buy KEY TERMS TOP TIP When you’re brainstorming, write down every idea that you have, even if you think it is silly or unrealistic. This is your opportunity to be creative and sometimes the best ideas appear when you don’t limit yourself! Remember that you need to include practical elements in your brainstorming so that you can make your ideas a reality and fulfill the brief you have been given. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the brief. You need to explore all possibilities at the start in order to work out what you need to do.
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Transcript of Cie design and technology
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2.1 ResearchIdentIfY constraInts
LEARNING OBJECTIVESBy the end of this section you should:
✓ Know how to brainstorm a problem ✓ Understand the importance of research in the design cycle ✓ Understand what types of sources designers use when starting to design a product ✓ Understand how to analyze existing products
tHe Importance of researcH In desIgnAn important part of the design process is the research a designer does to collect all the relevant information they need in order to create a new product. This research should form the foundation of any new product and is a vital part of the design development system. Research can be time-consuming and often only a fraction of the information collected is actually used in the fi nal design process. Brainstorming is a useful starting point and it is helpful to get some initial thoughts down on paper. Market research is often carried out by companies who invest a great deal of money and time in discovering exactly what it is that people want, and designers use this to help them develop new products that meet the needs of their customers.
BraInstormIngDesigners use brainstorming to help them work out what they need to do in order to begin a project. The designer usually does this after the client has given them a design brief. Below is an example of some brainstorming a designer has done after they have been given a design brief for a DVD storage unit. This diagram shows the many different areas the designer needs to investigate before they can start designing their product.
∆ Initial handwritten brainstorm
design process: every stage that needs to happen in order to create a new product, from the design brief, all the way through to the evaluation of the fi nal product
brainstorming: generating ideas and suggestions, and noting down all possible areas that need to be investigated at the start of a project
market research: collecting and studying information about what people want, need and buy
KEY tERMS
TOP TIPWhen you’re brainstorming, write down every idea that you have, even if you think it is silly or unrealistic. This is your opportunity to be creative and sometimes the best ideas appear when you don’t limit yourself!
Remember that you need to include practical elements in your brainstorming so that you can make your ideas a reality and fulfi ll the brief you have been given.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the brief. You need to explore all possibilities at the start in order to work out what you need to do.
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InformatIon and presentatIonAfter brainstorming ideas, the designer will need to research the areas they identified. There are several different sources from which information can be gathered. Some of these sources will become more important than others as the product develops, and there will be a lot of information that will not end up being used at all. Here is a list of sources a designer can use to help with their market research:
• Magazines and catalogues• Text books• Library• Questionnaires and surveys• Internet• Interviews with the people who might use the product• Subject experts – asking them for advice• Personal experience
It is helpful to use different types of graphs when analysing the research results. Presenting information visually can make it easier to understand.
SKILLS ACTIVITYMake a list of all the things you need to research in order to make a letter rack.
What materials could it be made from?
What are the three most important things you need to know to develop design ideas?
Target Market
Who is it for?
What age group?
What makes it appeal
to a target market?
MaterialsWhat materials is it made from?What properties have these materials got?
environmental concerns
Does this product harm the
environment in any way?
Is it made from any recycled
materials?
costWhat is the making price of this object (if known?)What is the selling price?Does the quality have an influence on the price?
aestheticsIs the product designed
in a specific style?Does it look attractive?
What are your feelings
about this product?ManufactureHow has this product been made?What methods of construction are used?Is is batch, one off or mass produced?
FunctionWhat does thisproduct do?Does it work well?Does it have specialfeatures?
How does it work?
ergonomics
Has the product been
made to suit the user?
Is it easy to use?
Is it easy to adjust?
Is it comfortable to
use?
exIstIng productsAn important stage of the development process is research into existing products. Designers need to investigate and analyze these products and ask the question, ‘Can I improve the design in any way? And if so, how?’. When looking at an existing product, the following needs to be taken into consideration:
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◁ Two types of graphs showing the results of a questionnaire asking people their favourite colour
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