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Research Specification Designing Evaluation Task Analysis

Making

Research is a task that is carried out THROUGHOUT the design process. It should be carried whenever you have come across a problem or obstacle that you can’t get around when designing. Information is key to generating ideas.

Coming across an obstacle

You can come across an obstacle when designing at any point in time.
It might be before you even start sketching ideas. For example, you might find that you have to base your designs on a particular theme such as pop art or art deco but you know little or nothing about that theme.
It might be later on in the design process when you have developed a final idea but have not figured out what materials to use to make your prototype.
It doesn’t matter when you come across an obstacle it can always be overcome by research.

Consumer Prod Analysis Ergonomics

Guide to carrying out successful research.

Remember that research should only be done to help overcome an obstacle. Therefore remember the following:

Keep it relevant and to the point.
Avoid simply cutting and pasted from books/Internet, summarise what you find.
Discuss not describe!
Research is not an activity which happens in just the first weeks of a task
Material should be summarised
Primary investigations are always best .

At the beginning of your design project its not a bad idea to develop a quick plan to show what sort of information you think you may need to collect and how you will collect it.
A simple research plan can be carried out using the research table below to help you gather your thoughts and plan what you need to do. The table uses ACCESS FM (click here for a definition of ACCESS FM).
Include this table in your folder work.
The table is simple to fill in and only requires bullet point style answers, don’t waffle and keep it brief. Hover over each ACCESS FM heading in the table to find an example of how to fill it in.

A mail order company wishes to offer a range of lamps based upon 20th century design movements.

You are required to choose one such movement and to design and make a product or range of products which reflect the essential features of the movement.

TASK

OBSTACLE

What is a 20th century design movements.?

RESEARCH

Art Nouveau 1890-1910

Pop Art 1950-1960

Art Nouveau was an international movement spreading throughout Europe and America, however it was popular in France, Scotland and Britain.

Art Nouveau was first introduced in the early nineteenth century, but became more popular between 1895 and 1905, in the late nineteenth century.

The movement came about because designers wanted to react against popular in society. Art nouveau helped artist and designers to express their imaginations and their inner self, and this showed in there work.

Art Nouveau designers had their favourite subjects which they used over and over again.

The main characteristics for Art Nouveau is the following:

• Stylised images - swirling twisted and elongated forms

• ‘s' shape designs

• Flat, BOLD colours

The main sources of inspiration for this movement were:

• Plants - lilies, irises, and poppies - these could be easily swept round the leaves and petals

• Birds - swans and peacocks- -the curves of the bodies were often cured round each other

• Figures - based on elegant young graceful dancers.

Art Deco was popular in Europe and America . It was introduced around 1920 -1930, but was popular in 1925 after it was discovered at the International Exhibition of Decorative Arts in Paris.

Art Deco came after Art Nouveau movement, and was an art form that rebelled against the Art Nouveau. There were no patterns, birds, figures, plants or ‘S' shapes in Art Deco formations.

Rectangular shapes and straight lines replaces the curing and swirling lines of Art Nouveau.

The inspiration for the Art Deco movement were cubism and photo type for machines production- - this was the era for the industrial age.

The characteristics of Art Deco are as follows:

• Straight lines

• Zigzag lines

• Sun rays

• Pyramidal stepped shapes

• Symmetrical shapes

All these different kinds of shapes were used and were important to the designs because it gave a balanced end even look to the picture. The design appeared simple.

Examples of Obstacles

Do I need to change the aesthetics because the consumer doesn’t like the design?
How am I going to make this design?
What are the best materials to use to make my prototype?
How much should my product cost to buy?
What are the characteristics of the theme I’m basing the aesthetics of my design on?
How is my product going to be unique and better than what’s on the market already?
What does my target market thing is a good idea?
How big should my product be?
9. Will this idea work?

SUMMARISING RESEARCH

You can use a range of different sources to quickly identify and research different design movements. Hover over the images below.

As discussed early its important to keep your research focused and to the point. Once you have chosen the design movement that you or your potential consumer likes, research and summarise the key characteristics of that design movement. It is pointless and a waste of time researching and characterising all the 20th century design movements. Click for an example opposite.

As discussed at the beginning you can come across an obstacle when designing at any point in time. The example given above is just one of many potential obstacles you may face when designing your product!

Quick Research

Research Help Guides

ACCESS FM

What information I will need

How I will collect the information

When will this information be useful

Aesthetics

Consumer

Cost

Environment

Safety

Size

Function

Materials

Research Table

How I will collect the Information.

To fill in this column write down the possible sources of information of each heading of ACCESS FM.
This could include sources such as, the Internet, books, visits, interviews etc.

When will this information be useful.

To fill in this column write down what stage of the design process the information will be useful.
Initial ideas, manufacture, final idea, specification, development of ideas.

Planning your research

ACCESS FM

What information I will need

How I will Collect the information

When will this information be useful

Aesthetics

●	Characteristics (colours, shape, materials)of pop art

●	History of the movement (designers, products).

●	Images researched on the Internet.

●	History of pop art from Internet and books.

●	Visit a museum or Gallery.

●	Before I begin designing.

●	Evaluating my ideas to make such they are in the style of pop art.

ACCESS FM

What information I will need

How I will Collect the information

When will this information be useful

Consumer

●	Characteristics of consumer. What their interests are, where they live, how much money they have etc.

●	Produce surveys to ask potential consumers.

●	Set up interviews.

●	Might me useful before I start designing to make sure my ideas will be liked by my consumer.

ACCESS FM

What information I will need

How I will Collect the information

When will this information be useful

Cost

●	The cost of materials and how much it will take to make.

●	The price consumers are willing to pay.

Research magazines, websites and shops cost of materials.
Research how much consumer is willing to pay?

Before I start designing to help me formulate my ideas.

ACCESS FM

What information I will need

How I will Collect the information

When will this information be useful

Environment

How will I cut down the environmental footprint of the product

●	Look at energy efficient devices

●	Look at use of sustainable materials

●	Research using Internet, product analysis

●	When deciding what materials to use.

●	When designing.

ACCESS FM

What information I will need

How I will Collect the information

When will this information be useful

Safety

●	What paints are safe to use for children, what paints are non toxic.

●	Suitable age range for my product.

●	When designing and finalising ideas.

●	When evaluating ideas.

ACCESS FM

What information I will need

How I will Collect the information

When will this information be useful

Size

●	Ergonomic and Anthropometric data.

●	Because I’m designing for teenagers a will measure the average size of my class mates.

●

Internet.

ACCESS FM

What information I will need

How I will Collect the information

When will this information be useful

Function

●	How do I make a cake sweet tasting but healthy?

●	What can I use instead of sugar?

ACCESS FM

What information I will need

How I will Collect the information

When will this information be useful

Materials

●	What materials are waterproof.

●	What materials can be vacuum formed.

What information I will need.

To fill in this column write down what information you think you may need to collect about each heading from ACCESS FM.
Make sure it’s specific and relevant to your design task.

Theme

Materials Objs Tut

Ext

Lesson Objectives:

You should be able to use your knowledge and research to independently design a range of ideas that meet the brief.

You should be able to annotate and sketch the key features of your designs giving indications of how you intend to manufacture your product.

You should be able to use your analysis to develop your initial ideas into suitable final prototypes and if time allows model it using card and CAD (Computer Aided Design).