2.3 The impact of external factors on the design of new products

scale of production (individual (one-off), batch and mass production) 

production processes 

costs (material costs and production costs) 

changing customer requirements 

social and cultural changes 

fashion and trends 

the availability of materials and resources 

new manufacturing technologies 

changing legal and environmental requirements. 

The scale of production directly shapes design choices, material selection, cost efficiency, and market strategy for new products. Designers must carefully consider production scale to align product features with manufacturing capabilities and market demands.

Individual / One-Off Production (Custom or Bespoke Production)

• Characteristics: Unique, custom-made products tailored to individual requirements.

• Design Impact:

  • Customisation: Allows for highly personalised designs based on client specifications.

  • Material Selection: Designers can use rare or expensive materials as cost constraints are secondary to personalisation.

  • Manufacturing Process: Labour-intensive, often involving skilled craftsmanship, hand tools, or specialised techniques (e.g., bespoke furniture, custom jewelry).

  • Cost: Higher unit cost due to limited economies of scale and intensive labour

Batch Production

• Characteristics: Produces a limited quantity of identical products in a single run (e.g., seasonal items, limited editions).

• Design Impact:

  • Flexibility: Allows variations in design, enabling designers to experiment with different styles or features within batches.

  • Material Selection: Moderate cost considerations allow for diverse materials, balancing quality and affordability.

  • Tooling and Equipment: Intermediate investment in tooling, allowing some customization while reducing costs compared to one-off production.

  • Cost Efficiency: Economies of scale reduce unit costs, making products more affordable without large-scale investment.

Mass Production

• Characteristics: Large volumes of identical products produced continuously or in large batches (e.g., smartphones, cars).

• Design Impact:

  • Standardisation: Designs are standardised to ensure consistency, leading to limited customisation.

  • Material Selection: Focus on cost-effective materials suitable for automated processes (e.g., injection-moulded plastics).

  • Manufacturing Process: Requires substantial investment in automation, assembly lines, and specialised machinery.

  • Cost Efficiency: Significant economies of scale lower unit costs, making products widely accessible.

  • Design for Manufacture (DFM): Emphasizes ease of assembly and minimal waste to streamline production.

General Impacts Across All Scales

• Cost and Pricing:

  • Larger scales of production lead to lower unit costs, influencing pricing strategies and market competitiveness.

• Market Reach:

  • One-off and batch production cater to 'niche' or luxury markets, while mass and continuous production target broader audiences.

• Sustainability:

  • Batch and one-off production often result in less waste but may use costlier materials.

  • Mass and continuous production focus on resource efficiency but may lead to higher environmental impact if not managed responsibly.

• Innovation and Flexibility:

  • Smaller scales allow rapid adaptation and innovation.

  • Larger scales emphasize efficiency, often limiting flexibility in design changes.

Apple worked with their Chinese partner to develop whole new production methods to be able to produce the iPhones 

Who designs the machines to build the iphones??

What processes are used and where are things built? Are they labour intensive? Modern factories use robots for mass manufacture

see YouTube video on Tesla megafactories - amazing

Add in about cheap labour force in China and Cambodia and Trunp's new Tariff's on Chinese exports. China moving maufacturing to other countries but still owned by China, gets around tariffs. 

Costs of setting up factories - often supported by governments (Amata industrial estates on the way to Bangkok)

iPhone colours - trends

Colours for certain territories

Pantone colour of the year

Fashionable materials and styles - Matte paint finishes for cars and road bikes

Graphic logos and large, bold statements - TREK, Balenciaga etc. 

New laws for electrinics disposal; worldwide law on using USB C, recycling etc.