Specification GCSE

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Research Specification Designing Evaluation Task Analysis

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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

Vids

A help ACCESS FM specification sheet is shown below. This shows how to complete the specification if you need help and guidance. It can be downloaded and printed via the printer icon.

You are going to use ACCESS FM to complete the specification. This stands for aesthetics, consumer, cost, environment, size, safety, function and materials. 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:

Start Objs Ass Ext

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.

GCSE Assessment Criteria:

Investigating the Design Context (8 Marks)

I have selected only relevant research c
My research has helped influence my design c
I have understood and analysed (in detail)...

the design context c
existing products c
consumer/focused research c
as well as independent research c

I have a clear, detailed Design Specification which refers to the analysis undertaken c

My Target market has been identified and the intended consumer/user profiled c

I have understood and analysed...

the design context c
existing products c
as well as independent research c

I have a clear, detailed Design Specification which refers to the analysis undertaken c

My Target market has been identified c

PRODUCT DESIGN: Specification

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?

How will you make the product easy to use? Will the switches and components easily identifiable? Will it be easy to change components such as bulbs, batteries etc? Will all the parts be accessible for repairs and cleaning? Will it be easy to assemble or require detailed instructions? Will it be easy to adjust if needed? Will it be easy to store? Will it be easy to transport?

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.

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.

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

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?

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 (11). 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