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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.
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-finishing room's air filter in his Ballbarrow factory.
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 IPhone 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 IPhone 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.”
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.
Draw or stick down three trainers that you like. Try and find some with unique features,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
Using ACCESS FM undertake a detailed analysis of the three trainers you have drawn or stuck down. Hover over the headings below for more guidance and to add more detail to your work……
Remember you will need to conduct your own research…….
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?
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?
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?
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
- 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?
