B1. Design Specification

Design specifications are very important to consider when you create a product. These are the MUST DO's of your design.

Specifications - What your product MUST DO in order to solve a problem successfully?

Example

In this example, a teacher discusses what students will need to consider when designing a pencil case for a target market. They must think critically and look at all of the following aspects, and then develop a series of "must haves" for their product.

A Product Specification is a document that provides critical defining information about a product and can include any or all ‘identifying measurable things’ listed below; design specifications and product requirements need to be checked through the use of ‘Testing Methods’ after or during the manufacturing process. A list of generic ‘Testing Methods’ can be found at the bottom of this doc

Here we are identifying measurable things that our solution could include.

Please NOTE not all of the elements have to be addressed just the most appropria

Aesthetics

Consider appearance, style, colour, shape/form, texture, pattern, finish, layout.

Cost

Is there a maximum cost? Is this a material cost/time cost/selling cost?

Customer

Who it is for? What is the target user’s age, gender, socio-economic background?

Environmental considerations

Where will the solution be used? How will the design directly or indirectly affect the environment?

Function (vs form)

What it must do? What is its purpose? Where will the product be stored? How easily can it be used/maintained?

Manufacturing

What resources are available? Are there limitations as to how this can be created? How much time is needed to create the design?

Materials

What materials are available? What properties do the materials need to have?

Safety

What safety factors need to be incorporated into the design?

Size

Are there any specific sizes that need to be considered? What “human factors” need to be considered? What anthropometric data needs to be considered?

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