Product Design & Development Overview

Study Notes

Product Design & Development

Product design and development considers many factors
Function, fitness for purpose, performance of materials, manufacture, maintenance, durability, running costs, environment, planned obsolescence, value for money, user, market, social expectations, branding, ergonomics, aesthetics, economics, and safety are all considered.

Design Issues

Function: A product's intended use, including primary, secondary, and tertiary functions.
- Example: A car's primary function is transportation, secondary is carrying messages and belongings, and tertiary is promoting an image.
- Functional considerations: How many people can it transport? How much cargo can it carry? Can it pull a trailer? Does it promote an image?
Fitness for Purpose: How well a product performs in specific situations.
- Different situations might require different features. For example, a camping kettle might be smaller and have different material properties than a kettle used at home.
Performance of Materials: Choosing materials suitable for the product and the environment it will be in.
- Example: Mild steel was a good choice for the Forth railway bridge because of its strength, non-flammability, and relatively low cost, but it requires continual maintenance. Electrical conductivity was not a factor.
Manufacture: How a product is made affects its durability, strength, cost, and how easily it is transported and maintained.
Maintenance: The cost and effort required to maintain different products varies widely.
Durability: The product's ability to withstand wear and tear affects its lifespan. This depends on the materials, assembly, and how frequently and severely the product will be used.
Running Costs: Costs associated with using the product, such as fuel, servicing, maintenance, and insurance for vehicles, but minimal costs for static products.
Environmental Impact: Materials and production processes should not harm the environment. Green design and non-renewable sources should be avoided.
Planned Obsolescence: Products are designed to have a limited lifespan, often deliberately, to encourage replacement.
Value for Money: Balancing the initial cost of a product with the cost to maintain and run it, against the user-experience.
User: Designing products that meet the needs of specific users (age, gender, style).
Market: Meeting the demands and behaviour patterns of the target market.

User Needs

Target market: The intended users of the product. Factors like age, sex, hobbies, and income influence design choices.
Consumer demands: Behaviour, lifestyle, and past practices will influence features and need
Social Expectations: Quality, durability, service, value, and performance are important factors
Niche Marketing: Targeting specific segments of the market like age, income group or geography.

Brand and Technology

Branding: Familiar brands evoke expectations and differentiate themselves in the market.
New products/Technological advancement: Development of products often arises from new technologies.

Ergonomics and Aesthetics

Ergonomics: The study of human interaction with their environment; designing products comfortable and safe to operate. Anthropometrics, physiological, and psychological considerations affect design.
Aesthetics: Designs that appeal to the senses; sight, touch, smell, and sound.

Economics and Safety

Economics: Costs involved in production, distribution, and potential liability for product failure. Fixed costs (labor) versus variable costs (transportation).
Safety: Products need to meet safety standards and not cause harm to the user.

Intellectual Property and Production Systems

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR): If a design uses someone else's idea, there needs to be payment.
Production Systems: Efficiency in producing an item. Larger scale production decreases costs.