Specification A2

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Research Specification Designing Evaluation Task Analysis

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Specification	Definition & Research Findings	Qualitative or Quantitative?	Essential or Desirable?	Importance	How am I going to test the success of the product?
Aesthetics
Consumer
Cost
Environment
Safety
Size
Function
Materials
Life Cycle
Packaging
Ergonomics
Anthropometrics
Timescale
Performance
Innovation

The specification is a document that expands upon the design brief and sets out very detailed design constraints. It may include:

Details of materials the product can be made from
Specific functional details, i.e. what the product must do, cost limitations and references to legal and quality standards that the product must meet.

When considering what should make up a design specification designers sometimes refer to a model developed by Professor Stuart Pugh. This is a model of ‘total design’ where all the factors might influence the design of a product are given attention.

Pugh makes an analogy between a designer having to balance all the factors that will influence a design and a circus performer balancing plates. The plates represent the factors that the designer must keep in mind throughout the design process. Like the spinning plates, some will require more attention than others at different times of the design process.

The ‘total design approach’ ensures that factors such as cost, ergonomics, environment are not given dominance over others.

Start Objs Ass Ext

The specification often details above and below the line criteria.

Above the line characteristics – qualities, how it looks, image, the visual interface between user and product, materials, ergonomics, anthropometrics and function.

Below the line characteristics – product performance, how it operates, manufacture, material and components, assembly and build quality.

AS Assessment Criteria:

AS Developing a Specification

Marks

A detailed and relevant specification developed from the product analysis

The specification displays a hierarchy of criteria, some of which are measurable and take account of the relative importance of a wide range of factors.

9-10 Marks

A2 Assessment Criteria:

Analyse research and developing a design specification

Marks

Detailed analysis of the design situation has led to appropriate and well-focused research.

Research using ICT where appropriate has been carefully analysed, as a result of which the candidate has demonstrated a thorough understanding of the task and the requirements which have to be met.

Evidence of students' ability to reflect upon their research and analysis and make objective comment on the way forward.

A detailed and relevant specification which displays a hierarchy of measurable criteria which takes account of the relative importance of a wide range of factors which will drive designing.

9-10 Marks

Qualitative testing and quantitative testing must be considered when selecting materials and processes for the design and manufacture of products and when writing design specifications. Quantitative testing are objective, measurable criteria, which can be assessed against specific performance measurable objectives such as:

The material must weigh no more than…..
The material used must be light enough to….
Related to material hardness, malleability, ductility…..

Qualitative testing will reflect the intended quality of certain defined aspects of a material’s specification. They are a more subjective form of criteria such as

The material must be aesthetically pleasing…
Material used must be recyclable…
The material must be bright…
Consideration of market sectors.

A specification is a list of goals that the final design must achieve. Specifications are an important part of designing because they provide a check list against which you can review your ideas as you are working. They also give you something against which to evaluate your ideas and your finished product against. It is a list of statements that should reflect your findings from your research state some research findings about what your design should achieve.

Although its called a Specification don’t be too specific as it can restrict your ideas. For example don’t say:

“my pop art storage unit will have a five draws, will be a square shape, and red and yellow.”.

This is what you should say as it will imply fewer restrictions when designing and allow more freedom to explore creative ideas to the design task:

“after researching different design movements, the aesthetics (style) of my product will be based on the characteristics of pop art design.”This includes bold colours, unusual shapes, explosions and anything else that represents pop art”

Do not simple describe an idea you might have in your head.
The point of this is give you a clear list of things that your product should be able to do and based around as identified by your research.

When you then start to develop your designs you can make sure you have included these things and compare your ideas against the spec to check you are meeting your research findings and consumers needs and wants

You are going to use ACCESS FM and expand this using more criteria you think is relevant to your project from the plate above to complete the specification. Mind map each one of these headings. Remember that you are designing a product for a consumer and their needs and wants. Hover over the key words for hints and tips. Remember you need to identify the importance of each product and if it qualitative or quantitative criteria.

Extension Task:

Starter Activity:

Lesson Objectives:

You will be able to analysis your research and be able to identify key criteria in order to design and model a successful outcome.

You should be able to produce a Specification from ordered research and identify the most important requirements for the design.

You should be able to look at your research and break them down in component parts highlighting the key issues that you think makes them successful

You should be able to write your own specification from what you have learnt.

Below are some past examples of AS and A2 specifications. Click on the pictures below:

AS Specifications.

A2 Specifications.

Specification

Introduction

Step 1 - Introduction:

Describe what activities you are going to carry out and explains why in terms of progressing your coursework.
Say how this will be helpful in your project.

Write down the original design context and design brief. This will need writing again once your specification is complete so its more specific………

What do you intend your product to look like? What colours, styling, patterns do you intend to use? Why and how have made these decisions? What did you research findings tell you? What materials and finish will you use in the design and manufacture of your product? How will you find out potential consumers opinions?

Who do you intend your consumer to be? What age are they? What do they do for a living? What are their likes and dislikes? What are their needs for the potential product? Is their any safety considerations you need to take into account? Does your product need to take into account anthropometric data or ergonomic considerations?

What price range will your product fall into? Will it be expensive, cheap, mid range, if so why? What materials, processes and finishes will you use, does this reflect the cost? Does the cost reflect the quality of the product? Is the cost of your product a result of what manufacturing processes (mass produced, batched produced, one off) you will use to commercially produce it? What will your potential consumer expect to get for their money?

How does the product effect the environment: When it will be made (manufacturing process): materials used, energy used? When its being used, will it give off any emissions or pollution? When it is disposed of, will it be recyclable, will it be able to be reused? How will you reduce the products carbon footprint?

How safe will the product be to use? What are the dangers of using your product (sharp edges, toxic paints, electric components, weight etc.) How will you make it safe for the intended user (example;. “all electrical components will be housed in a waterproof casing or raised”)? How will you reduce the risk of injury?

How big is the product generally going to be? How big will certain parts of your product be? Can you make it adjustable? How big do you potential consumers expect the product to be? Are there any critical sizes you must take into consideration? If space is limited how will you maximise this?

What will be the main functions of the product, what does it do? What features will you design on your product to make it more environmentally friendly and what do they do? What features will you place on your product top meet your potential consumers needs and wants? (Multi-functional, modular, flat packed, space saving)

You may not know exactly what materials you will be using yet however you should have an idea of the sort of product you will make i.e. Cheap, low quality, high quality, expensive. This will have an effect on what type of materials you will use: luxurious materials such as... high quality materials such as… cheap materials such as… You may also know the sorts of properties some materials will need to be. For example: Flexible materials such as… Waterproof materials such as…

What materials will you use in the manufacture of the product? Are they suitable, could they be used to mass produce your product? Will they be easy to mark out, cut, shape and finish? How will you finish the product? Are the materials environmentally friendly? Can they be recycled or reused at the end of the products life Could you improve upon your material selection? Does your material selection impact upon the products lifecycle?

What materials will you use in the packaging of the product? Are they suitable, could they be used to mass produce your product? Are the materials environmentally friendly? Can they be recycled or reused at the end of the products life? What symbols and warnings would you include on the packaging? How could you cut down the packaging environmental footprint? Will your product be flat packed? Does this effect the size and transportation costs of your product?

What ergonomic considerations do you need to take into account? Are there any components that need changing such as bulbs or batteries? Will access be easy to get to? Does it need colour coded interfaces to explain how to use or interact with the product? Will the product move or need to be moved? What ergonomic considerations will need to be taken into account if this is the case? Do you need to consider SPURC (strength, posture, user group, reach or clearance)?

What anthropometic considerations do you need to take into account? Use SPURC (strength, posture, user group, reach or clearance) to identify the key criteria that you will need to consider to design a successful product.

What percentile do you need to take into consideration? 5th, 50th or 95th percentile range?

Anthropometrics is the study of body measurements and statistical data concerning the sizes and shapes of the population.
Ergonomics is the relationship between a product and its users.
All people fall into the 5th, 50th and 95th anthropometric percentile range.
User group, posture, clearance, reach and strength are all important factors in anthropometrics and ergonomics.

What timescale are you working with? Are there any special considerations that you must take into account:

Material delivery time
Testing and prototyping
Time to laser cut, 3D print, manufacture?
Gluing time?
Finishing time (i.e. Sanding, sealing etc)?
Finish drying time?

Can you estimate time scales for the main activities you think you will need to undertake?

Do you have opportunities to build in contingencies?

What performance criteria can you identify in order to test how successful your product is? For example how well the function of a product is executed. In the case of a lamp, performance could be measured is by evaluating the spread of light produced. Maximum weight could be identified, strength, durability? How can you identify consumers performance needs? How will you end test the performance of your prototype?

What innovative features can you include in the design of your product? What can you include to give your design the edge? What is your interpretation of innovation. Look at your pro-design words such as modular, multi-functional, foldable, flat packed etc.

Conclusion

Ensure that you have

written an initial design brief as a short, clear statement of intent;
produced a more detailed broad product specification;
included specifications required by the client or consumer;
developed a hierarchy of features;
used qualitative and quantitative performance criteria;

included the unique selling points of the product.
Produced a detailed final specification

The specification often details above and below the line criteria.

Above the line characteristics – qualities, how it looks, image, the visual interface between user and product, materials, ergonomics, anthropometrics and function.

Below the line characteristics – product performance, how it operates, manufacture, material and components, assembly and build quality.

 The material must weigh no more than…..

 The material used must be light enough to….

 Related to material hardness, malleability, ductility…..

Qualitative testing will reflect the intended quality of certain defined aspects of a material’s specification. They are a more subjective form of criteria such as

 The material must be aesthetically pleasing…

 Material used must be recyclable…

 The material must be bright…

 Consideration of market sectors.

Write down if the criteria is either quantitative (measurable) or qualitative?

The specification often details a list of primary and secondary criteria. This aims to ensure that the subsequent design and development of a product meets the needs of the user. The aim of the product, how is it to achieve its purpose, the target market, ergonomic factors, appearance and finish – aesthetic considerations.

Primary (the key essential elements)

1. The material selected must be from a sustainable source and display this information to the consumer.

2. The weight of the unit must not exceed a total weight of 2kg.

3. The individual components must be easily removed for replacement purposes.

Secondary (the additional elements or desirable features)

1. The unit is available in a range of colours.

2. The unit will include a range of different materials in its construction.

3. The unit can be used in a variety of environments.

Write down if the criteria is either essential or desirable?

From your consumer research and analysis of research which of the criteria is the most important (1) and which one is the least important (15). Give them a score of 1-11 with one being the most important to the success of your product.

Hover over the ACCESS FM criteria opposite for hints and tips……….

Analyse the key points of your research for each of the criteria listed.

What did you learn from your product analysis
Was form or function more important
What do your intended users like and want your product to look like?
What colours, styling, patterns etc., do they like
Why and how have you made these decisions? Why will your product look like that, what did you product analysis findings tell you?
Can you improve upon the products you analysed?

How big is the product GENERALLY going to be? For example: “it will be pocket size so that it can be kept with the user at all times.”
How big will certain parts of your product be?
For example: “the back support of my chair will be the correct size for the average 16 year old.”
You probable haven't carried out anthropometric research yet so you don't need to say exactly what size it has to be.
Will it be adjustable? Placed in an alternative location etc