Extensive and easy to understand classnotes for Unit 13 - within designing and making principles for paper 2. These helped me achieve an A* throughout the course.
User centred design (USD) creates products that:
Are popular with user group - making it more commercially successful
Competes successfully against similar products - gaining a larger market share
Iterative design process
Follows a cycle of ideating, prototyping. testing + research
designers may go back and forth between steps
Product development
Encourages research + development
Principles of International usability standard
Design is developed by a multi-skilled, multi-disciplinary team e.g. engineers, product designers
ergonomists etc
Design process is iterative
Users are involved throughout the design + development process
Ergonomics + Anthropometrics
Anthropometric data
is the study of the size + proportions of the human body. Also including sound frequencies etc
Measurements are taken from a large sample of one demographic, to create data sets that ensure products
are ergonomic
Data distribution e.g. shows how height is typically distributed
Ergonomic design
can affect - colour, form, texture + symbols used
Ergonomic testing
is performed throughout the design process + final prototype
Products should be easy + comfortable to use
To achieve this designers use anthropometric data (e.g. body size) to ensure their product 'fits' the intended
user group
, They observe how people interact with products
To identify problems with existing products
Talk with consumer focus groups
Designing to meet needs wants or values
Research
Physical needs e.g. physical needs of children are totally different to a blind person
Intellectual needs e.g. small children might be attracted to bright colours
Emotional needs of consumer
Finding out what people like or dislike + aspirations and ambitions
e.g. Many consumers are very brand conscious (want to be seen using top brands) designers + manufacts
exploit that by developing products that are perceived as high quality
Values + sociological needs
Eco conscious consumers demand for products that don't damage the environment
Research methods to investigate user group + key elements of brief:
Human factors
refers to ergonomic + aesthetic factors that influence the design of a product
Primary investigation techniques
Interviews / focus groups
Interviews allows designers to discuss exact client requirements
In a focus group a range of ideas can be collected
Market research
Studying a range of products can identify a gap in the market
Surveys and questionnaires
Data collected disposable income, age range, hobbies etc
Disassembling + evaluating existing products
Human factors
Such as ergonomic issues can be considered by observing potential customers using a product
, refers to ergonomic + aesthetic factors that influence the design of a product
'Immersion'
Designers put themselves in the environment or situation the user is in
e.g. Wear frosted glasses to stimulate the experience of someone who is visually impaired
e.g. Wear thick gloves to stimulate the experience of someone who has arthritis
Secondary investigation
Explore historical + contemporary designers or design movements
to come up with style for new product
Obtain anthropometric data relevant to age group of target market
Usually for the adult market designers use data around the 50th percentile - it is the average for male +
female consumers
Percentile: represents a percentage position in a range of data
Development of design proposal
Testing + Evaluating
Prototype planning
Planning what to test + evaluate for each prototype helps to decide on the materials needed
Simple models can be made by hand but more complex models can be made using CAD/CAM
Evaluation + improvement
Results of tests helps to further develop design solutions - in order to create the best product
Models are shown to users to help develop market appeal
Models might be evaluated with production engineers
If the product is to be manufactured in industry
Planning, manufacture and evaluation of a prototype
Prototype is tested + evaluated, so improvements can be identified before final product is put into production
Once design has be finalised manufacture is planned e.g. the stages
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller arkantawbargh1. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £4.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
