Design Analysis: resources to help students excel
High school Design and Technology students are often asked to assess their own designs and those of others. This requires a clear understanding of good design principles and identification of the target market or intended user. Analysis may also involve gathering and organising relevant primary and secondary data, such as conducting market research.
When evaluating a design, students should consider a range of different factors, including:
- Function: how well the product works or fulfils its purpose;
- Ergonomics: how well the product relates to the human body, considering user comfort and interaction with the senses, as well as how intuitive the design is to use;
- Aesthetics: the visual appearance of the designed item and the impact of this on the user;
- Materials: types and properties of materials and their suitability for use;
- Production Processes: an analysis of the construction and methods, manufacturing approaches, joining methods, and scale of production, and quality control;
- Cost: economic considerations affecting the creation, use, maintenance and repair of a product across its lifecycle;
- Safety: health and safety considerations while creating, using, and repairing the product.
- Sustainability: environmental considerations across the lifecycle of the product.
- Cultural and Social Factors: the impact of political issues, cultural sensitivities, religious observances, accessibility for different age groups and abilities, language considerations, and socioeconomic access and affordability.
A Level Design and Technology students also need to learn about:
- Roles and Service Sectors: the roles of various individuals across a product lifecycle.
Articles to help students understand these topics and conduct design analysis are included below.