Copyright © 2020 M.Kenny, A.McGuire and E.Jones. All Rights Reserved
No parts of this website maybe copied or reproduced without permission
As already mentioned researching existing products or products that are available on the market is a good place to look for inspiration for new products. Why?
- You can determine how to make your product better than what is currently available on the market.
- You can find problems with existing products and design a new product that solves these problems.
- Most products that you buy are very rarely products that are a completely new invention.
- Often the products that you buy are simply improved versions of later products.
Designers rarely design a product that is brand new. Most ideas are
based upon past or similar products or inspired by nature, artists
or other designers or design movements. Product analysis is a key
feature in researching and developing a new product and a key
feature in the continuous improvement of a product.
TASK ONE
Through product analysis James Dyson found a problem with old vacuum cleaners whose
design had remained the same since the early 1900’s. He became frustrated with his
vacuum cleaners diminishing performance: dust kept clogging the dust bag, reducing
suction. Dyson had the idea of using cyclonic separation to create a vacuum cleaner
that would not lose suction as it picked up dirt. The cyclone idea came from the
spray-
Dyson’s first original invention, the Ballbarrow, was a modified version of a wheelbarrow using a ball instead of a wheel. This was featured on the BBC's Tomorrow's World television programme.
Dyson continued product analysis on his own design and found a further problem. It was difficult to turn the cleaner because of its fixed wheels.
Design and technology should be the subject where mathematical brainboxes and science whizzkids turn their bright ideas into useful products
James Dyson
Analysing Existing Products involves the following:
- Examining commercial products in detail
- Little value in just using photographs from the Internet
- Consider this as inspirational as well as an investigation
- Using ACCESS FM it is easy to undertake a detailed analysis of an existing product.
- It is very important that you DO NOT simply describe what features the product has but rather explain and analyse the success or failure of those features.
- State how your analysis has inspired you.
- Use different images or preferably your own photographs to highlight your analysis.
- Use a number of images to highlight the different aspects of ACCESS FM
- Which of the images below would best show the: Aesthetics, Cost, Consumer, Environment, Safety, Size, Function, Materials
WHEN ANALYZING
DO NOT say:
“this IPod has a touch screen and is very thin, it has a camera and a built in speaker. I don’t like it.”
DO say:
“the IPod has a touch screen which I THINK is an excellent design feature BECAUSE it eliminates the need for buttons to carry out functions and in doing so allows the screen to be a big as possible. This makes it a lot better for watching films and playing games on. However the screen is prone to becoming dirty as it is contently being touched. I THINK that it will become annoying to keep clean. It would be a good idea if I could design my MP3 with a touch screen that didn’t mark so easily.”
Hover over the different areas of the page below to give hints and tips to help complete.When carrying out product analysis you need to be analytical. You need to add your own opinions and give explanations and reasoning for your suggestions. Below is a list of questions that you can use to help construct a statement for each ACCESS FM heading.
DO NOT ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS DIRECTLY, THEY ARE THERE TO HELP YOU TO CONSTRUCT A PARAGRAPH
For top marks make sure you
- Add a conclusion explaining what you would improve about the product for each of the ACCESS FM points
- Try and get potential consumers opinions about the product…
Images
Aesthetics
____________________
__________________________________
_______________________________________________-
Cost
____________________
__________________________________
_______________________________________________-
Consumer
____________________
__________________________________
_______________________________________________-
Environment
____________________
__________________________________
_______________________________________________-
Safety
____________________
__________________________________
_______________________________________________-
Size
____________________
__________________________________
_______________________________________________-
Function
____________________
__________________________________
_______________________________________________-
Materials
____________________
__________________________________
_______________________________________________-
Aesthetics
- What do you think about how the product looks?
- Is it successful or not? Why?
- Are the looks (colour, shape, styling) suitable or not for the end user? How and why?
- How could they be improved in your design?
Product Images
- Use different images or preferably your own photographs to highlight your analysis.
- Use a number of images to highlight the different aspects of ACCESS FM
- Which of the images below would best show the: Aesthetics, Cost, Consumer, Environment, Safety, Size, Function, Materials
Cost
- Is the product cost effective? Is it too expensive, too cheap, priced correctly?
- How much would you be willing to pay?
- Why is the product priced as it is? Is it because of its brand name, its quality, the materials used? What do you think, anything to add? How will this effect your design?
Consumer
- Who is the intended end user?
- What is the intended consumer profile?
- Has the product been designed appropriately for he intended user or not? How and why?
- Have the ergonomics/anthropometrics been designed correctly for the intended end user? Explain.
Environment
- How does the product effect the environment:
- When it was made (manufacturing process) , materials used, energy used
- When its being used, does it give off any emissions or pollution?
- When it is disposed of, is it recyclable, can it be reused?
Safety
- How safe is the product to use?
- Are any parts of it dangerous, what are they and how are they dangerous.
- Is it safe enough for the end user to use?
Size
- How big is the product generally? For example: “its too big to fit in a pocket which makes it difficult to transport.” therefore how could the size be improved?
- Is it too big, too small or correctly sized for the intended user? How? Think about anthropometrics?
Function
What are the main functions for the product, what does it do GIVE FULL DETAILS FOR THIS? For example:
“This chair allows the user to sit down at a desk. The user is able to swivel on the chair to change position as the main support post is not fixed. The user can also move around the room whilst sitting on the chair as it has caster wheels on the base of the legs.”
How well does the product perform these functions? How could you use these suggestions as inspiration to design a BETTER product.
Materials
- What are the materials that have been used to make the product?
- Are the materials suitable?
- Are they strong enough?
- Do they have the properties that are required for that product? Are they good or bad quality?
- Do the materials add any aesthetic qualities? What do you think?
Images
Packaging
____________________
__________________________________
_______________________________________________-
Ease of Use.
____________________
__________________________________
_______________________________________________-
Production
____________________
__________________________________
_______________________________________________-
Consumer Opinion
____________________
__________________________________
_______________________________________________-
Modifications
____________________
__________________________________
_______________________________________________-
TASK TWO (AS and A Level
Poles Apart
____________________
__________________________________
_______________________________________________-
I prefer products that have lots of different functions. I prefer function over form and this really appeals to me when choosing a product. I prefer a product that can change style and has more than one function
I prefer products that look really good. I prefer form over function and this really appeals to me when choosing a product.
TASK TWO Extended Product Analysis and Polls Apart
Consumers mark off where you would place themselves on the scale.
- This is a very effective way of asking potential consumers about their values and believes.
- It allows the consumer to voice how strongly they feel about something.
- On one end you have a statement and on the other you have an opposite statement.
- People are asked to mark off where on the line they place themselves and are asked to comment why they have placed themselves there.
- Try and develop a question for each of the points of ACCESS FM in relation to your product.
Product Images
- Use different images or preferably your own photographs to highlight your analysis.
- Use a number of images to highlight the different aspects of ACCESS FM
- Which of the images below would best show the: Aesthetics, Cost, Consumer, Environment, Safety, Size, Function, Materials
Packaging
- What are the materials that have been used to make the packaging?
- Are the materials suitable?
- Are they environmentally friendly?
- Do they have the assembly instructions?
- Are they good or bad quality?
- Does the packaging add any aesthetic qualities?
- What do you think?
Ease of Use
- Is the product easy to use?
- Is the object adjustable or multifunctional?
- Is it easy to move or change if this is the case or does it need instructions? Does it need replaceable parts i.e. Bulbs?
- Are they accessible and easy to change or do you have to take the product apart?
Production
- Can you identify how the product was made?
- Does this method make it suitable for mass production?
- Does this method reduces costs or can you see a better method of producing this product?
- Does the method of production effect the aesthetics of the product?
Consumer Opinions
- Who is the product you are analysing aimed at?
- Use “poles apart” to gather primary research about what the target market things about this product.
- Ask around 10 people to complete the survey.
- Display all ten results on a single line.
- Ask around 6-
8 questions that will gage the target markets opinions about the aesthetics, functionality, cost, safety, materials, etc.
Size
- How big is the product generally? For example: “its too big to fit in a pocket which makes it difficult to transport.” therefore how could the size be improved?
- Is it too big, too small or correctly sized for the intended user? How? Think about anthropometrics?
Consumer Profile (Polls Apart)
- Consumers mark off where you would place themselves on the scale.
- This is a very effective way of asking potential consumers about their values and believes.
- It allows the consumer to voice how strongly they feel about something.
- On one end you have a statement and on the other you have an opposite statement.
- People are asked to mark off where on the line they place themselves and are asked to comment why they have placed themselves there.
- Try and develop a question for each of the points of ACCESS FM in relation to your product.
Lifecycle
____________________
__________________________________
_______________________________________________-
Design Modifications
What would you suggest to improve the five products that you have analysed that you think will meet your potential consumers preferences. Draw these for extra marks.
Lifecycle
- What are the materials that have been used to make the product and are they suitable to ensure the product stands the test of time.
- What components have been used and do you think they are suitable or will need to be regularly replaced.
- Does the product need regular maintenance?
