Selection of Materials and Components

Cards (10)

  • Functionality
    • How well a material does the job has to be considered whilst designing every product
    • Designers need to be aware of a whole range of material properties
    • How easy a product is to work with is also a consideration
  • Functionality
    • Chipboard would not be suitable for outdoor furniture as it would swell and disintegrate in the rain
    • Card is easier to fold and more stable than paper when making packaging
  • Aesthetics
    • What colour does your product need to be?
    • Should it be shiny or matt?
    • Smooth or textured?
    • Natural finishes can also make something more aesthetically pleasing
  • Designers have to make sure they are designing for their target market, different people have very different taste so the aesthetic would have to be carefully analysed
  • Environmental factors to consider when selecting materials
    • Is the material renewable?
    • Can it be biodegradable when disposed of?
    • Can the material be recycled?
    • Can parts be changed when worn out or reused as something else?
  • Availability
    • Widely available materials are cheaper, quicker to get delivered and easy to get exactly what you want
    • Rarer materials (such as slow growing hardwoods) are expensive, difficult to find and generally worse for the environment
  • Cost
    • The price of your end product will depend on the cost of each part
    • A product which aims to be cheap to buy will have to be made out of cheap materials
    • The more of a product you produce the cheaper you can buy materials
    • A designer may choose to create a product using the best quality materials which would cost more
  • Social factors to consider
    • Has the material we use been sourced from a renewable supply?
    • Have the farmers, processers and factory workers been treated fairly (Fairtrade)?
    • Have the raw materials been processed without causing environmental damage?
  • Cultural factors - Sensitivity to cultural beliefs has to be considered in your designs
  • Ethical design would include Fairtrade materials, using renewable products from sustainable sources and not using products made from animals, such as fur and ivory