Product Design
Overview
A product is designed once and made thousands of times. That one fact separates product design from everything else in this endorsement. A building is a one-off and a sculpture is a one-off, but a kettle has to be manufacturable, affordable, packable, repairable, safe in the hands of somebody who never reads the instructions, and still worth looking at after five years on a worktop. Every decision is multiplied by the production run.
This note takes you through the working method: a brief with real constraints, user research that produces measurements rather than opinions, ergonomics and anthropometric data, fast sketch models, the manufacturing processes that decide what shapes are even possible, and surface as the last thing you touch and the first thing the user does. The designers here made a vegetable peeler, a wall-mounted music player and a desk lamp, and each one is a lesson in the difference between a form and a product.
Objectives
- Generate and develop three-dimensional design ideas for consumer products with consideration for ergonomics and functionality
- Use a range of product design materials, tools and techniques such as two-dimensional and three-dimensional modelling, digital and non-digital design methods and surface considerations
Lesson Note
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Product Design. 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.
- A clearance dimension, such as the size of an opening a hand must pass through, should normally be set from: A) The 5th percentile, the small user B) The 50th percentile, the average user C) The 95th percentile, the large user D) The designer's own measurements Answer: C
- Draft angle on a moulded part exists so that: A) The part looks more dynamic B) The part can release cleanly from the mould C) The plastic cools faster D) The parting line is hidden Answer: B
- A moulded housing with a 12 mm solid base will most likely suffer from: A) Insufficient strength B) Sink marks and warping as the thick section cools unevenly C) Excessive draft D) Too many parting lines Answer: B
- Which model is made specifically to test size and feel in the hand rather than appearance? A) Appearance model B) Rendered visual C) Full-size foam sketch model D) Exploded drawing Answer: C
- Which change best supports a requirement that a product be repairable and recyclable? A) Bonding the two shells with adhesive B) Moulding two different polymers permanently together C) Using screws or snap fits so the parts separate into single material streams D) Applying a thicker lacquer Answer: C
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
Recommended Books
Practice Mock Questions
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