Study Notes: Design Considerations
Hey everyone! Welcome to your study notes for Design Considerations. Think of this chapter as the ultimate checklist for any designer. Before you create anything – a new app, a comfy chair, or even a better takeaway cup – you need to think through a bunch of important factors. That's what design considerations are all about!
Why is this so important? Because good design isn't just about looking cool. It's about creating products that solve real problems, are safe to use, and actually make people's lives better. By the end of these notes, you'll understand exactly what to think about to turn a good idea into a great product. Let's get started!
The Starting Point: Design Brief and Specifications
Every design project starts with a plan. You can't just start building without knowing what you're trying to achieve! This plan has two key parts: the Design Brief and the Specifications.
What is a Design Brief?
The Design Brief is a short, simple statement that describes the problem you need to solve or the goal you want to achieve. It’s the main mission.
Analogy: Imagine you're a superhero. The design brief is the call for help: "The city needs a new bridge that can withstand typhoons!" It tells you the main problem without getting into tiny details.
Example: "To design a portable and reusable container for 'bubble tea' that reduces plastic waste and is convenient for students to carry."
What are Specifications?
If the brief is the mission, the Specifications are the list of detailed requirements and constraints. They are the rules of the game. A good specification is always measurable and specific.
These points come from a needs analysis, which means figuring out exactly what the user and the situation require.
Memory Aid!
To remember the key areas to cover in your specifications, think of "FAME-S CoSt":
- Function: What must the product do? (e.g., Must hold 500ml of liquid without leaking.)
- Aesthetics: What should it look like? (Colour, shape, style) (e.g., Should have a modern, minimalist design.)
- Market: Who is it for? (Target user) (e.g., Aimed at secondary school students aged 15-18.)
- Ergonomics: How will people interact with it? (Comfort, ease of use) (e.g., Must be easy to hold with one hand.)
- Safety: How will you make sure it won't harm anyone? (e.g., Must be made from food-grade, BPA-free material.)
- Cost: What is the budget? (Production cost, selling price) (e.g., Production cost must be under $30 per unit.)
- Style/Taste: What is the desired look and feel? (e.g., Should be available in a range of popular colours.)
Key Takeaway: The Design Brief is the main goal. The Specifications are the detailed, measurable rules you must follow to achieve that goal successfully.
Solving the Puzzle: A Holistic Design Approach
Once you have your plan, you need to start solving the problem. The best designers use a holistic approach. Don't worry, it's simpler than it sounds!
A holistic approach means looking at the "big picture." You don't just focus on one aspect (like making the product look amazing) and ignore everything else. You must consider how all the different parts of the design work together.
Analogy: Think of cooking. A great chef doesn't just focus on the main ingredient. They think about the spices, the side dishes, the temperature, and how the food is presented on the plate. Everything has to work together to create a perfect meal. That's a holistic approach!
This means you need to appreciate the designer's intent – what were they trying to achieve overall? When you see a product like a very simple, elegant chair, the designer's intent wasn't just "make a place to sit." It was also to create a sense of calm, use minimal materials, and fit into a modern space.
Common Mistake to Avoid!
A common mistake is getting "tunnel vision." For example, designing a super powerful vacuum cleaner (great function!) but making it so heavy and loud that nobody wants to use it (bad ergonomics and psychological factors). A holistic approach avoids this.
Key Takeaway: A holistic approach means considering all design factors (function, cost, safety, user, environment) together to create a balanced and successful solution.
Designing for People and the Planet
This is a huge part of modern design. Your product doesn't exist in a vacuum – it's used by real people, and its creation affects our planet. You MUST consider both human and environmental factors.
Human Factors
This is all about making products that fit the people who use them. It can be broken down into three main areas:
1. Ergonomics:
This is the science of designing things to be comfortable, efficient, and easy to use. It’s all about fitting the product to the person, not the other way around.
Example: An ergonomic office chair supports your back properly to reduce strain. A well-designed game controller fits comfortably in your hands for hours of play.
2. Anthropometrics:
This is the study of human body measurements (like height, weight, and hand size). Designers use this data to make sure their products are the right size and shape for the people using them.
Example: The height of a standard desk is determined by anthropometric data of the average adult. The size of a smartphone is designed to fit in the average person's hand and pocket.
3. Psychological Factors:
This is about how a design makes a person feel. Colours, shapes, sounds, and textures can all trigger different emotions.
Example: Luxury brands often use black and gold in their packaging to create a feeling of elegance and high quality. Hospitals use calming colours like light blue and green to reduce patient stress.
Environmental Factors
A good design should be kind to the planet. This is often called sustainable design. Key things to consider include:
- Materials: Can you use recycled materials? Is the material biodegradable?
- Energy Use: Does the product use a lot of energy? Can it be made more efficient?
- Lifecycle: What happens to the product when it's no longer needed? Can it be recycled or reused? (Think "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle"!)
- Physical Environment: For larger designs like buildings or rooms, think about lighting (is there enough natural light?), ventilation (can fresh air get in?), and access (is it easy and safe to move around?).
Did you know? The famous Dyson Airblade hand dryer is a great example of considering environmental factors. It uses far less energy than traditional hand dryers and completely eliminates paper towel waste.
Key Takeaway: Great design is human-centred and environmentally conscious. Always think about Ergonomics (comfort), Anthropometrics (size), Psychology (feelings), and Sustainability (planet).
Following the Rules: Product Standards and Safety
You can't just sell any product you make. It has to be safe and meet certain quality levels. This is where standards and laws come in.
Product Standards
Product Standards are official documents that set out the required technical specifications for a product or material. They ensure that products are reliable, safe, and compatible with each other.
Analogy: Think of USB ports. There is a standard for their size and shape so that any USB cable can fit into any USB port, no matter who makes it. That's thanks to standards!
You should be aware of these two important standards bodies:
- ISO (International Organization for Standardization): A global organisation that creates standards for almost everything, from the size of paper (A4, A3) to quality management systems.
- GB (Guo Biao): These are the national standards for the People's Republic of China. If a product is sold in mainland China, it often needs to meet GB standards.
Legislation and Consumer Rights
Governments also pass laws (legislation) to protect consumers. These laws make sure products are safe and that companies are honest in their advertising. For example, there are specific safety laws for children's toys to prevent choking hazards or the use of toxic paints.
Key Takeaway: Designs must follow official standards (like ISO) and government laws to ensure they are safe, reliable, and legal to sell.
The Final Check: Design Evaluation
You've finished your design... but you're not done yet! The final step is Design Evaluation. This is where you critically assess your solution to see how well it works.
Analogy: It’s like proofreading your essay before you hand it in. You check it carefully to find any mistakes and see where you can make it even better.
How do you evaluate a design? You go back to the very beginning!
The key is to evaluate your final design against your original Design Brief and Specifications.
Here’s a simple step-by-step process:
- Revisit your plan: Read your design brief and every single point in your specifications list.
- Test your product: Use the product (or a prototype) in a real-world situation. Does it do what it's supposed to do?
- Get feedback: Ask your target users to try the product. What do they like? What do they dislike?
- Measure and compare: Does the product meet all the measurable criteria? If a specification was "weighs less than 500g," then weigh it!
- Identify improvements: Based on your tests and feedback, what could be changed to make the product better?
Design is an iterative process. That means it’s a cycle. You design, you evaluate, you find problems, and you go back to modify and improve your solution. It’s okay if it’s not perfect the first time!
Key Takeaway: Design Evaluation is the essential final step where you test your solution against the original brief and specifications to check its success and find ways to improve it.