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