Design and Technology: Product Design (9252) | Design strategies

Designing Smarter: Study Notes for Design Strategies

Hello future designers! Welcome to the exciting chapter on Design Strategies. Think of a design strategy as your secret weapon or your detailed roadmap. It's the plan you follow to make sure your product doesn’t just look good, but actually solves problems and meets the user's needs.
Mastering these strategies will help you move from simply sketching ideas to designing truly successful and innovative products. Don't worry if some terms seem new—we’ll break them down step-by-step!

1. User-Centred Design (UCD)

This is perhaps the single most important strategy you will learn. User-Centred Design (UCD) means keeping the end-user (the person who will actually use the product) at the heart of every decision you make.

Why is UCD essential?

If you design a product that is confusing, uncomfortable, or difficult to use, people won't buy it or they will complain about it! UCD ensures the product is functional, safe, and enjoyable.

The UCD process involves four main stages that cycle back and forth:

1. Understand the Context: Who is the user? Where will they use the product? (e.g., A waterproof watch for swimming vs. a dress watch for an office).
2. Specify Requirements: What exactly does the user need the product to do? (e.g., The watch must be readable in low light).
3. Design Solutions: Create prototypes and early concepts based on those requirements.
4. Evaluate: Test the prototype with real users and gather feedback. (Then go back to step 1 or 2 to refine!)

Prerequisite Concepts for UCD:

When focusing on the user, designers rely on two key scientific areas:

• Anthropometrics: This is the study of human body measurements.
  Example: Designing the height of a kitchen counter so most people don't have to bend too much, or ensuring a chair seat is wide enough.
• Ergonomics (or Human Factors): This looks at how people interact with products and their environment. It focuses on comfort, efficiency, and safety.
  Example: Shaping the handle of a screwdriver so it fits comfortably in the human hand and reduces strain.

Memory Aid: A for Anthropometrics = All the numbers (measurements). E for Ergonomics = Easy interaction.

2. Inclusive and Universal Design

This strategy takes UCD one step further. It asks: Can we design this product so that everyone can use it easily, regardless of their age, ability, or background?

a) Inclusive Design

Inclusive Design focuses on ensuring products are usable by people who might typically be excluded, such as those with disabilities, limited eyesight, or older users. It means designing with maximum accessibility in mind.

• Example: Adding large, high-contrast buttons on a remote control for people with visual impairments.

b) Universal Design

Universal Design aims to create products that are inherently accessible and usable by the widest range of people possible without the need for special adaptations.

Think about a curb cut (the ramp from the pavement to the road). It was designed for wheelchair users (Inclusive), but everyone uses it: parents with prams, cyclists, and people carrying heavy luggage. That's Universal Design.

• Example: Replacing door knobs (hard for people with arthritis) with lever handles (easy for everyone).

Did you know? Universal design principles often lead to better products for everyone. Clear instructions and simple controls benefit all users, not just those who struggle with complexity!

3. Iterative Design

Successful design is rarely achieved on the first attempt! The Iterative Design strategy recognises this. It’s a cyclical process of constant refining, testing, and improvement.

The Iterative Loop

Instead of a straight path, iterative design follows a loop:
Plan → Create Prototype → Test → Evaluate → Refine → Repeat

Imagine you are designing a new sports bottle lid.

1. Prototype 1: The lid leaks slightly when tipped (Test).
2. Evaluate: The seal needs to be thicker.
3. Refine: Redesign the seal mechanism (Refine).
4. Prototype 2: The lid no longer leaks, but it’s too stiff to open (Test).
5. Evaluate: The grip surface needs more texture.
6. Refine: Add grooves to the plastic (Refine/Repeat).

This loop continues until the design meets all the necessary requirements. This strategy is vital because it catches mistakes early, saving time and money later in the manufacturing process.

4. Form Versus Function (Aesthetics)

When designing a product, you have to consider two major elements: Form and Function. These two strategies are often in tension with each other.

a) Function (What it does)

The function of a product is its practical purpose—how well it works, how efficient it is, and whether it fulfills the user's needs. Function is usually the priority for safety-critical items (e.g., car brakes, surgical tools).

b) Form (How it looks)

The form refers to the aesthetic qualities, shape, style, colour, texture, and overall appearance of the product. Good form makes a product appealing, distinctive, and desirable.

The Balance

Some designers (following the famous architect Louis Sullivan) believe that "Form follows Function" – meaning the product's shape should be determined entirely by its purpose.

However, in modern product design, the best products achieve a balance. If a product works perfectly (good function) but looks hideous (poor form), people might not buy it. If it looks amazing (great form) but breaks easily (poor function), it’s a design failure.

• Example: Many successful smartphones are designed to be thin and sleek (good form), but their complex internal structure must still allow for reliable operation (good function).

Common Pitfall to Avoid: Don't let aesthetics compromise safety or usability. A beautiful kettle that is unstable or has a weak handle is badly designed.

5. Designing for Longevity and Sustainability

In the context of the environment and waste management, design strategies must account for the full lifecycle of the product. This means designing products that last longer and are easier to recycle when they eventually break.

a) Design for Maintenance and Repair

This strategy ensures that if a product component fails, it can be easily fixed or replaced, extending the life of the entire product.

• Modular Design: Using separate, self-contained parts that can be swapped out (e.g., the battery module in an electric toothbrush).
• Standard Fixings: Using common screws or bolts instead of proprietary, custom fastenings.
• Access Panels: Providing clear, easy ways to access internal parts for repair (e.g., a simple clip-off base).

b) Design for Disassembly

When a product finally reaches its end of life, the ability to take it apart quickly is crucial for efficient recycling.

Designers employ strategies like:

• Minimising Material Mix: Grouping similar materials together (e.g., putting all the plastic parts in one section and the metals in another).
• Avoiding Permanent Bonding: Using clips, snaps, and screws instead of glue or welding to join components.
• Material Identification: Clearly marking plastic parts with recycling codes to speed up sorting.

By planning for disassembly, designers ensure that valuable resources can be recovered and reused, supporting the concept of a Circular Economy.