Factors Affecting Design

Front 1

Cost

Back 1

Must consider:

Financial cost- manafacturing & marketing

Environmental cost- impact of production, obsolsece.

Social cost- Accepted values, cultural norms.

Short term (financial) Long term (Env. Social)

The price potential customers are prepared to pay for the product.

Front 2

Ergonomics

Back 2

The relationship between people and there physical environment.

Front 3

Materials

Back 3

The availability of materials and the development of new, hi-technology materials will have an influence on the final design of a product.

Front 4

Asthetics

Back 4

The physical appearance of the product

The style applied to the outside of a product can influence the technology inside it.

Aesthetics can also alter the production / manufacturing techniques through which it is made.

Front 5

Cultutr

Back 5

Some products are aimed at different cultures and countries. A product acceptable in one culture may be looked up one as offensive or less desirable in another. The use of colours and colour schemes are a good example of this.

Front 6

Function

Back 6

Efficiency of the outcome related to the initial need.

The number of functions a product has to perform will affect its design.

Exactly what is the product going to do?

Front 7

Saftey

Back 7

Products must conform to the required levels of saftey set down by government legislations and by satutory authorities.

in terms of its production, use and disposal.

Front 8

Durability

Back 8

The ability of the product to perform its given function over a period of time

Front 9

Obsolescence

Back 9

The tendency for an item to become out of date or to be no further used

Front 10

Life cycle anaylisis

Back 10

To examine the function of the product at all stages of its use. From design of the product to its disposal.

Front 11

Time

Back 11

A design parameter that relates to all levels of design and product development.
Time can not be varied without it impacting all other areas of design.

Front 12

Energy

Back 12

Used to create, produce, market and consume designs. Amount used depends on value of end product.

Front 13

Recyclability

Back 13

Ability to break down after use to serve as a raw material for new products

Front 14

Quality

Back 14

Level- ability of product to perform for period of time. overall durability, reliability, precision, ease of use, repair.

Consistancy- delivering targeted level of quality

Front 15

Sustainability

Back 15

Meeting the resource needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.