Research of
Existing Products
Frequently asked questions:
How long have I got for this section? Due in week commencing
20/9/06
How many marks is this bit worth? 4
How many pages should it occupy? A maximum of 3
One of the activities you MUST complete in this section
is to look at existing products that are similar to the
product you intend to design. If there are none available
you may need to break it down into smaller elements that
are similar.
You must evaluate these existing products against the
needs of your user (identified in the research of the
intended use of the product). For this you may need to
use an actual product or a picture of a product. If possible,
take the product apart, see how it was made, what are
its dimensions, etc.
Questions you might ask yourself about the product:
· Does the product work well, does if fulfill its
intended purpose?
· What is the function of the product – how
does it work?
· What methods of construction have been used to
assemble the product?
· What colours have been used? Is colour an important
feature?
· How has the product been embellished to improve
its appearance?
· How successful is the product?
· What is the cost of the product?
· Are there any legal requirements that need to
be met?
· Is it environmentally friendly?
· Do the materials used have special properties
or performance characteristics?
· How many parts are there to the product? List
them.
· How important are size and ergonomics to the
product?
It is far better to look at 2 products in detail than
to look at 5 products briefly.
Consider how you might present this information. For example:
· Separate each product studied onto separate pages
· Include pictures or drawings of the product
· Show net designs where appropriate
· Use sub-titles and bullet points (no waffle,
please!!)
All the information collected should mean something to
your project. Make sure you consider carefully how your
findings will help you to design your own product. Outline
these findings so that the person marking your work can
find them easily.
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