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For more detailed instructions, see the Getting Started presentation.

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Product Design Designing for Different Needs

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Learning objectives

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Lea

rnin

g o

bje

ctiv

es To be aware of a product designer’s role and responsibilities.

To understand the importance of risk assessment and being health and safety conscious.

To aim to design environmentally friendly products.

To realize the impact that designing and manufacturing a product has on the environment.

To understand how product obsolescence affects designers, manufacturers and consumers.

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The role of a product designer can vary depending on the product they are developing or the organization they work for. Product designers work in conjunction with other roles:

Which other roles are involved? Discuss the role of the designer in relation to them.

The role of a product designer

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Product designers have a responsibility to society because they design and

manufacture items which can affect people’s lives in many

ways. Designers should consider these questions:

Will the product affectthe environment in any way?

Does the product encourage a negative behaviour pattern?

Can the product be misused or abused by people?

Willspecific social or religious groupsbe offended by the product?

Will the product cause physical or mental harm to the user group?

Social awareness

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Economic awareness

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Risk assessment involves thinking ahead about working procedures in order to anticipate risks and take precautions.

Being health & safety conscious

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sharp edgesprotruding partssmall parts whichcould be easily swallowedeasily detachable partstoxic surface finishes.

Designers should think in terms of designing products which do not cause potential harm to their users. This is particularly relevant when designing toys.

Toys should not have:

Which features do you think toys should not have, in order for them to be safe for children?

Designing for health & safety

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Decide whether each activity is high, medium or low risk by dragging it into the correct box.

Designing for health & safety

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Designers have a social responsibility to make sure that the

environment is not damaged as a direct or an indirect result of products they develop.

The rainforests are a good example of a natural resource that is under threat. They are being depleted at an alarming rate so that the trees can be used around the world for manufacturing and other purposes.

Manufacturers are encouraged to use more softwoods, which can be replanted and grow at a quicker rate than hardwoods. Other materials such as MDF and chipboard are also better for the environment because they are made mainly from recycled materials.

Are there any recycled alternatives to the materials you use?

Designing for the environment

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Designing for the environment

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Designing for the environment

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How long would you expect each of these products to last

before wearing out?

10:10

COOLpiX5.1

2.4

2.62.8

3.0

Designing for the environment

Product obsolescence refers to the lifespan of a product and the serviceable and maintainable parts within it. Have you ever noticed that some products fail just outside the warranty period? They have obsolescence built into them.

Obsolescence is both positive and negative depending on how you view it. Some manufacturers make products that will last, in the hope that consumers will eventually come back to them for another product in the future; some design levels of obsolescence into their products so that specific parts wear out and need to be replaced. Usually, these parts are not covered under guarantee.

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Designing for the environment

Split into three groups. One group should be the designers, one should be the manufacturers and one the consumers. In your groups, discuss the implications of the following statements. After 20 minutes, discuss what your groups have talked about with the rest of the class.

Consumers have to buy spare parts for the product after the initial purchase.

The product keeps working for a long time.

The product breaks down within the guarantee period.

Spare parts and labour charges are expensive.

The product breaks down beyond repair soon after the guarantee period ends.

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Designing for consumer protection

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Key points

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Key

po

ints

Product designers have a responsibility to the manufacturer, consumer, to society and to the environment to make products that are not harmful or dangerous in any way.

Health and safety consciousness and risk assessment are very important when designing products.

The Three Rs help remind you how to stay environmentally friendly.

Product obsolescence is often built into products and affects different people in positive and negative ways.