Amiria Gale Designers have an obligation to ensure their creations not only function as intended but also safeguard the well-being of manufacturers, workers, and users throughout the product’s entire lifecycle. This article guides students through the process of assessing a product in terms of health and safety, identifying potential hazards and risks at each stage in the … Read more
Understanding the cost of a product throughout its lifecycle is crucial for establishing whether a product is commercially viable and able to be sold for a profit. Cost considerations extend far beyond the initial manufacturing process and encompass everything from research and development to eventual disposal. This guide helps students evaluate the financial implications at … Read more
Understanding the target market is crucial for any Design and Technology project. It is essential to clearly identify and understand who your target user is at the outset of your project. This article guides you through key questions to help you create a clear picture of your target market. Why businesses target specific customers Most … Read more
Aesthetics refers to the appearance of something. Aesthetics plays an important role in Design and Technology because visual appearance strongly influences how a user will respond to, purchase or interact with a product. When we talk about aesthetics, we consider visual elements such as colour, tone, line, shape, texture, form, space, and proportion, and how … Read more
High school Design and Technology students often need to test and evaluate products. This may involve devising and applying appropriate tests as necessary to assess the success of a product against original specifications or design need. This article provides an introduction to destructive and non-destructive testing methods. Products are tested for many reasons. Testing helps … Read more
[show an awareness of correct procedures for the preparation of materials select appropriate processes for shaping, forming, cutting, joining, fitting, assembling and finishing a variety of materials show an awareness of the correct and accurate methods of drawing, marking out and testing – IG] [produce a product which demonstrates an ability to manipulate materials sensitively … Read more
[use modelling to test proposals – IG] [Emphasis should be placed on using prototyping as part of the iterative process] [The differences between a:– model– prototype– marketable product. – A2] Prototypes A prototype is an early sample, model, or release of a product or system that is created to test a concept, process, or design. … Read more
[select and develop a solution after consideration of time, cost, skill and resources – IG] [clarify main features/aspects of proposed solution evaluate the proposed solutions regarding the specification points – IG] [simple comparative testing leading to the reasoned selection of materials and processes for specific design and making tasks – IG] use modelling and trialling … Read more
[generate and record ideas as potential solutions to problems using a range of techniques relate self-appraisal judgements to the purpose of their study, in particular the specification which they set themselves identify what resources they need for solving practical/technological problems use a variety of media and equipment to produce models and mock-ups as a means … Read more
Wondering how to write specifications as part of a high school design and technology project? This article provides a guide for students who need to prepare a design brief with specifications and restraints. What are design specifications? Specifications list the design criteria for your project and specify what is needed in a design. These outline … Read more