Influences On Designing
Overview
No product is designed in a vacuum. Before a single sketch is drawn, a designer is already being pulled by competing forces: who will use the thing, where it will be used, what it must be safe enough to do, how much of the planet it is allowed to consume, and whether the market will even want it. The best designs are not the ones that ignore these pressures but the ones that balance them cleverly, often turning a constraint into the very feature that makes the product succeed.
This note works through every influence the 0445 syllabus expects you to weigh: user needs and the context of use, anthropometrics and ergonomics, aesthetics, safety, inclusivity, sustainability and the 6Rs, the pull of existing designs, fashion, culture and the law, the availability of materials and technologies, and the wider effect a design has on society and markets. Each one is illustrated with real products so you can spot the influence at work and write about it with confidence in the exam.
Objectives
- user needs
- where the product will be used
- anthropometrics and ergonomics
- aesthetics
- safety
- inclusivity
- sustainability (including energy sources and Rethink, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair and Recycle)
- existing designs
- fashion and trends
- society and different cultures
- legal requirements
- the availability of materials and technologies
- the impact of design on society and markets.
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Lesson Note
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Influences On Designing. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- Which of the following is a user NEED rather than a want for a child's bicycle helmet? A. A choice of fashionable colours B. A cartoon character printed on the side C. Protection of the head in an impact D. Glow-in-the-dark stickers Answer: C
- Anthropometric data is best described as: A. The study of how products affect the environment B. Numerical measurements of human body sizes C. The cost of materials used in a product D. Rules about electrical safety Answer: B
- In the 6Rs, which option is generally the LEAST preferable and sits at the bottom of the list? A. Rethink B. Reduce C. Reuse D. Recycle Answer: D
- A shelf is to be reachable by as many adults as possible. Its height should be set using which percentile of standing reach? A. 5th percentile B. 50th percentile C. 95th percentile D. 100th percentile Answer: A
- Designing a single mainstream product so that children, older people and people with disabilities can all use it is an example of: A. Planned obsolescence B. Inclusive design C. Aesthetics D. A legal requirement Answer: B
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