Factors affecting design

Factor
Appropriateness
of the design
solution (Need)
Functions
Aesthetics

Finance

Ergonomics

Workplace Health
and Safety (WHS)

Quality

Short and longterm

environmental
consequences

Obsolescence

Description
The design solution must be in context with the problem.
The outcome of the design process the resulting product,
system or environment must consider the end user and
the environment in which I is to be used.
Function refers to the ability of a product to repeatedly
perform the task for which it was designed.
Aesthetics refers to the physical appearance of a product
and its visual appeal to the target market. There needs to
be a balance between the consideration of function and
aesthetics when designing. People like to use things that
look good and work well.
Finance refers to the monetary costs associated with all
phases of the development of a product from designing to
research and development, and manufacturing the
product. The management of finance or a budget is crucial
to the success of any project.
Ergonomics may be defined as the relationship between
the human user and their physical or work environment. It
is the process of designing workplaces, products and
systems so that they fit the people who use them. The aim
of ergonomics is to develop a comfortable, safe product or
work environment.
Workplace Health and Safety as it is now known, refers to
both the rights and responsibilities of employers and
employees in the workplace. For students, the classroom
or workshop are your workplace, and rules relating to safe
work practices are implemented to ensure safety.
Quality is a measure of excellence. We associate quality
with durability and expect the product to repeatedly work
as designed for a long period of time.
Short-term environmental consequences may relate to
the more immediate impacts of designing and producing
such as the selection and use of resources and the
production and wastage and pollution.
Long term environmental consequences such as global
warming, rising sea levels and the loss of biodiversity may
have catastrophic global impacts on future generations if
we, as designers to not make positive informed choices
now.
When a product or technology is no longer of functional
use, it must be discarded and replaces. Products are
considered obsolete when they are replaced by a new or
more attractive product.

Examples of Failures and Successes of Design

Failure: The West Gate Bridge Collapse
- 112m span bridge collapsed during construction in 1970
- 35 workers were killed that day
- Royal Commission established to fin the cause of the collapse
- Error begat error quote from report.
- Design flaws combined with managerial factors led to eventual collapse,
all the people involved in the design and construction were in some part to
blame, human error
Success: HOG H2O
- Innovative water storage tank, storing the greatest volume of water in the
smallest possible space
- Unique design allows it to be fitted under flooring, decks etc
- Lasts 20 years
- Environmentally friendly

Trends in Design
Social Issues:
Multiculturalism:
- there are many cultures represented in our population
- the trend to cater for our multicultural society has impacted on design and
production
- Numerous languages are spoken and read
- Clothing would need to be designed to respect some cultural aspects
- Multimedia will sometimes have a warning that images of deceased
people may be present, in respect of indigenous Australians
Social Class:
- Socioeconomic status is determined by the interaction of their social and
economic situations
- An implication of socioeconomic status is the amount of disposable income
an individual has
- People who are in higher socioeconomic groups have more funds to
allocate and vice versa
- Designers will need to consider these facts
Egalitarianism:
- Equal rights and opportunities for all
- Minority groups, disabled people, non-English Speakers and the
underprivileged deserve products, systems and environments designed
and produced to ensure their needs are met.
- They need to be accessible in affordability and practicality
- Should design products that doesnt create further marginalisation
Social
-

Conscience:
Right and wrong
Values and ethics
Designers need to be aware of this and to assess the ethicality of their
design
Globalisation:
- The process of integrating societies, economies, cultures through global
networks

Often said that the world is becoming a smaller place

Designers are both affect by this and contribute to it
Technological advancements in communications had done this. Teams in
two or more different countries can undertake design projects
cooperatively
- Allows for design for an international market
Political Issues:
- Many legislations and laws governing design and production in order to
protect consumers and manufacturers
- Government funding is available for environmentally friendly designs
- Financial support reflects the trends and issues in a society
Commonwealth Trade Practices Act (1974)
- Protects consumers in a range of areas, particularly pricing and product
safety
- Prohibits commercial behaviour that is unfair, misleading or deceptive
- Warranties and guarantees
Economics
- Vital role in the success of designers
- State of the economy determines the amount of disposable income that
people have
- Plays a vital role in manufacturing, with a higher cost of wages, land and
insurance in Australia, many companies produce offshore
- Overseas production involves lower costs, such as cheaper labour which
can produce a financially attractive product
- However, there are pitfalls; ethical concerns, labour working conditions,
local industry is adversely affected by this
- In order to ensure stable employment and ethical good practices, it is in
our interest to support the local production Australian made logos
Environmental Issues
- Every PSE leaves an environmental footprint at some stage in its life cycle
- Short and long term impacts
- Designers have a responsibility to design as sustainably as they can and
try to ensure that their products harm the environment in the least way
possible
- Two things to be concerned are: pollution (air, ware and land pollution,
global warming), limited materials (renewable, scarce and non-renewable
materials, waste)
- Widespread concern, public more aware
- 6.9 billion plastic bags every year

Historical and Cultural Influences on design and production

Changing Social trends:
- Our lives and the way we conduct them have changed significantly over
time
- Women have now become prominent in society after womens liberation
movements
- More women are working, family structures have changed
- Cost of living rising and average working hours increasing
- People can work from home
- All of these factors influence design, producing need for convenience
products and time saving devices

Cultural Diversity:
- Cultural diversity of Australia has resulted in various PSE based on specific
needs of ethnic communities
- Each culture has brought traditions and customs with them
- They have influenced food, fashion, tools, techniques and experiences
- Designers need to be aware of these things and make sure that we respect
and celebrate cultural differences in our designs.
Changing Nature of Work:
- Workplace relations, technological advancements, increase in women
working
- 20th century the average working week exceeded 50 hours, people worked
at least 10 hours on low wages
- Nowadays, many part time jobs and flexible work hours
- Computerisation has changed the nature of available work, with loss of
jobs as a result of computers and robots replacing humans
- At the same time increase in Information Technology and Communications
Industries
- Computers can be used to do repetitive and dangerous work, while
humans are employed for their creative and problem solving abilities
- Change in setting, offices
Technological Changes:
- Industrial revolution: machines, electricity, automations, mass production
- Digital revolution: computers, CAD, CAM, increase of production, better
products
- Designers need to be aware of the impact of this on design

Ethical and Environmental Issues

Ethics:
- Defined as doing right or wrong based on ones personal calues, customes
or beliefs
- Subjective, depends on a personal point of view and cultural influences
- There are a number of ethical issues related to design and innovation,
including intellectual property (such as patents, copyright and plagiarism
- Designers should be accountable for their actions, decisions, production
methods etc.
- Morally and ethically responsible for health and safety of their employees,
but also the wider community
- Designers have ethical obligations to themselves, their peers and their
design
- Legal and ethical responsibilities include: working within customers
deadlines, budget constraints and quality expectations, ensuring that the
goods are priced reasonably and of good quality, considering social and
cultural implications of their work, and addressing environmental and
sustainability issues
Intellectual Property Rights
- Organisations include IP Australia, standards Australia, the Trade Practices
Act, Worker compensation and the ACCC
- Registered Designs: some designs are formally registered, protecting the
visual appearance of the product that makes it unique. It protects the
aesthetics but not the inner workings.

Patents: Legal right granted to protect a device, substance, method or

process. Gives the holder legal right to promote the product for
commercial gain. Does not include intellectual property. Must be applied
through IP Australia. Standard lasts 20 years
- Copyright: Free and granted for all original works of art, music, sound
recording, film computer games, literature. Copyright act of 1968
- Trademarks: legal right to use, license or sell a particular item or service in
Australia. Trademarks are names or other symbols used by a manufacturer
to distinguish their products from those of their competitors
Environmental Issues:
Global Warming, Pollution Levels:
Impact on Society:
- Designers must be careful with their design to ensure that it does not have
major negative impacts on society
- Good design can bring enormous social benefits and reduce costs to
finance and health
Assessing impact of design
- LCA
Sustainable Technologies
- Sustainable energy sources, solar power, biofuel, hydroelectricity, wind
power, geothermal

Factors that influence design

Available and emerging technologies, Timing, Historical and cultural factors,
Political factors, economic factors, Legal factors, marketing strategies

Creativity and Design

Processes:
- No correct approach to designing, finding a balance between systematic
and intuitive process
- Sketching is an effective creativity technique
- Collaboration is a useful design technique.
- Stimuli can inspire innovations
Critically Analysing innovation
Quality, innovation and creativity:
- Quality involves measuring against predetermined specifications and
meeting customer requirements, as well as ensuring it is fit for the
purpose which it is designed, pleasing customers etc.
- Quality control refers to the techniques used when inspecting for quality
and detecting faults during production
- Quality assurance is the planned procedures used to ensure the product
meets quality standards.

Factors to be considered when selecting resources

Safety:
- Consider your own safety when selecting resources
- Childrens toys is a product where safety is a high priority
- Australian standards; provides parameters which designers should adhere
to

Safety for those who execute the designs as well as those who use the
PSE.
- Industry practice: Standard Operating Procedures for all machinery and
equipment used
- Researching materials, tools and techniques will improve safety
- Use MSDS for materials, wear PPE for equipment etc.
Ethical Issues:
- Responsibility for ethical design
- Based on our values
- Responsible for consumer, environment, society and other designers
- Issues include: cheap labour, unsustainable materials, offshore labour
Environmental Issues:
- Materials (Limited resources, non-renewable resources etc.)
- Pollution

Emerging technologies
-

Technologies is a term used to describe materials, tools and techniques

New and emerging technologies are those that have been developed
recently or are being developed
- Many factors have led to emerging technologies: the move to
sustainability has led to many new technologies and improvements on
already existing technologies (e.g. solar power, recycling
- New technologies lead to newer technologies
- Changes come in our society because of emerging technologies, consider
for example electricity. Today power is almost taken for granted
Impact on society and environment:
- Designers are expected to keep pact with the expectations of society while
producing environmentally friendly products and systems
- Need to consider the consequences of introducing technologies into
society
- Social impact. Bad examples: Asbestos
- Environmental impact. Good example: Cars becoming electric powered
- Transport is an area that has been majorly impacted by emerging
technologies, as is communications
Impact on innovation:
- New technologies allow innovations to occur. For example Volta invented
the battery. Many innovations have come to rely on this simple product
- Innovations can come from using an existing technology in a new way

Design Processes and Techniques

Design Process
Project Evaluation

Project
Development

Technique
- Ongoing Evaluation
- Demings cycle
- Criteria to evaluate success
- Impact of MDP:
o Individual
o Society
o Environment
- Creativty:
o Sketching models
o Block models

Project Management
Project Proposal

o Working models
o Prototypes
Research:
o First hand research: visiting stores, looking at
existing products
o Second hand research: journals, books,
internet, experts
o Justify decisions
Communication techniques:
o Visual communication skills sketches, ideas,
brainstorms, computer drawings
o Graphs, photos
Time/action plan
Finance plan
Identification and exploration of the need
Needs analysis
Areas of investigation
Surveys, questionnaires