By the end of this unit you should have developed a knowledge and understanding of:

• how to discuss your own and commercial products, leading to possible improvements/modifications of the original idea

• how products are required to undergo rigorous testing-and the testing methods used

• how the use of third party feedback and testing informs the evaluation process

• how critical analysis informs future modifications and development

• the importance of ensuring the views of other interested parties are obtained in order to have objective and unbiased feedback

Introduction

Success in the design of products is dependent on them fulfilling the specification set out in the initial stages of the design process. You can enhance your design skills by identifying the strengths and weaknesses of a range of commercial products, as well as your own designs and outcomes.

It is particularly important for consumer products to be critically analysed and evaluated by designers and manufacturers, to ensure that they are safe, attractive and compliant with the requirements of UCD.

Testing, such as the use of wind tunnels for vehicles, promotes high quality design and greater fuel efficiency through aerodynamics and improves the products’ chance of commercial success.

Critical analysis and Evaluation

Critical analysis is an important element of the design process: it ensures that an in-depth, objective study is made of elements of design, often linked to related research.

Your own products

There are several points during the design process where designs are evaluated and decisions need to be made. You will have started this process by critically analysing a problem or situation, so it is important that you continue to do so throughout the design process.

A key factor in any evaluation or analysis of your own design work, will be to refer back to the original product design specification (PDS) to check that your ongoing design work still meets the requirements of the specification. You can still introduce new ideas or initiatives, but you must ensure you are meeting the needs of the client, user or target market.

Example: modifications to address and issue

One good way to practise critical analysis is to take a commercially available product and discuss, or consider, what its original specification might have been. With that in mind, consider how well the product would meet that specification and how well it performs in general.

Consider the material studied in Unit 1.13 (Enterprise) and the factors that are involved in marketing a successful product such as price, purpose, function, pleasure etc.

What factors make this a ‘good or bad’ design?

It is rarely that simple as an unattractive product that is simply functional at a low price may essentially be a better ‘product’ than an expensive, more attractive item that functions the same. However, this is an important element of critical analysis.

Commercial products

The study of commercial products has been covered in Unit 2.1. As previously mentioned, testing and evaluation is closely linked to critical analysis, but is more concerned with how well the product meets the design specification.

For critical analysis, consider the following:

• who is the target market, the demographic and how might this have affected the product design specification?

• how well does the product satisfy the points in that specification?

• handle, and where appropriate, disassemble the product to evaluate its efficiency in materials and construction methods

• how repairable is it, can it be easily disassembled for recycling?

• how well does it function in use? Is it enjoyable to use?

• how would owning the product make you feel?