3.2 Designing and making principles
Design methods and processes
Iterative design process
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Students should be aware of, and able to explain, different
approaches to user centred design. That in approaching a design challenge there is
not a single process, but that good design always addresses many issues, including:
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Representation of data used to inform design decisions and evaluation of outcomes. The use of ergonomic and anthropometric data when designing products for humans and specific applications. |
Design theory
Design influences
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Students should be aware of, and able to discuss, how key historical design styles, design movements and influential designers that have helped to shape product design and manufacture. |
Design styles and movements
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Students should be aware of, and be able to discuss, key design
styles and movements and their principles of design, including:
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Designers and their work
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Students should be aware of, and be able to discuss, the work of
influential designers and how their work represents the principles of different
design movements, including:
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How technology and cultural changes can impact on the work of designers
Socio economic influences
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Students should be aware of, and able to discuss, how socio
economic influences have helped to shape product design and manufacture, including:
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Major developments in technology
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Students should be aware of, and able to discuss, how major
developments in technology are shaping product design and manufacture, including:
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An awareness of scientific advancements/discoveries and their potential development. |
Social, moral and ethical issues
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Students should be aware of, and able to discuss, the
responsibilities of designers and manufacturers, including:
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Product life cycle
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Design introduction, evolution, growth, maturity, decline and replacement. Students should be familiar with examples of how designers refine and re-develop products in the lifecycle of specific products. |
Design processes
The use of a design process
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Students should be aware of, and able to discuss and implement,
the stages of a range of design processes in order to apply personal judgement and
relevant criteria in the appraisal of products and systems, including:
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Prototype development
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Students should be aware of, and able to discuss and demonstrate, the development of a prototype from design proposals. This knowledge should influence the development of design ideas for the NEA so that students may make high quality products that meet the needs of identified users. |
The iterative design process in industrial or commercial contexts
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Students should be aware of, and able to discuss, how different design methodologies are used by designers in the corporate world when designing products including collaborative working and the cyclic nature of commercial design and manufacture. |
Critical analysis and evaluation
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Students should be aware of, and able to discuss, their own and commercial products leading to possible improvements/modifications of the original idea. |
Testing and evaluating products in commercial products
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Students should be aware of, and able to discuss, how products are required to undergo rigorous testing, and the testing methods used, before they become commercially available for sale. |
Use of third party feedback in the testing and evaluation process
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Students should be aware of, and able to discuss, how the use of
feedback and testing informs the evaluation process, including:
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Selecting appropriate tools, equipment and processes
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Students should be aware of, and able to discuss and demonstrate,
good and safe working practices, including:
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Accuracy in design and manufacture
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Students should be aware of, and able to discuss
and demonstrate, the importance of accuracy in manufacturing,
whatever the scale of production, including:
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Determining quantities of materials. Calculation of sides and angles of products. Use of datum points and geometry when setting out design drawings. Use of geometry to create templates for designs. |
Responsible design
Environmental issues
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Students should be aware of, and able to discuss, the importance
environmental issues in design and manufacture, including:
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Conservation of energy and resources
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Students should be aware of, and able to discuss, the concept of
a circular economy, including:
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Design for manufacture and project management
Planning for accuracy and efficiency
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Students should be aware of, and able to discuss and demonstrate, the importance of planning for accuracy when making prototypes and making recommendations for small, medium and large scale production. |
Quality assurance
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Students should be aware of, and able to discuss and demonstrate, the procedures and policies put in place to reduce waste and ensure manufactured products are produced accurately and within acceptable tolerances, including quality assurance systems including Total Quality Management (TQM), scrum, Six Sigma and their applications to specific industrial examples including critical path analysis. |
Quality control
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Students should be aware of, and able to discuss and demonstrate,
quality control, including:
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National and international standards in product design
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Students should be aware of, and able to discuss,
the importance of national and international standards in product
design, including:
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