AQA DT

• Harry Beck

  • Designed the London Underground Map in 1931
  • Inspired by electrical schematics
  • Omitted geographical details
  • Colour-coded
  • Soon used by many cities
• William Morris

  • Part of the Arts and Crafts Movement
  • Bold, nature-themed patterns
  • Fabric and wallpaper prints
• Alessi

  • Original and fun
  • Employs many different designers, such as Philippe Starck
  • Kitchen equipment
  • Mass-produced
  • Affordable
• Dyson

  • Cyclone technology
  • Bag-less vacuum cleaners
  • Thousands of prototypes
• Thermosetting:

  • Interlinked molecules
  • Cannot be re-formed
  • Charrs or scorches, does not melt
  • Epoxy resin, urea formaldehyde (plug sockets, electrical switches)
• Thermoforming:

  • Long chains of molecules
  • Can be re-heated and re-moulded
  • Recyclable, by being grinded into pellets and melted down
  • HDPE (buckets, milk crates)
  • LDPE (carrier bags)
  • Poly vinyl chloride (pipes, shoe soles)
• Natural fibres:

  • Wool (hard-wearing and warm)
  • Cotton (clothing, soft furnishing)
  • Silk, from silk worm cocoons (luxury clothing)
  • Flax (soft, lightweight clothing)

  Advantaged of natural fibres:

  • Easy to grow
  • Quick and cheap to harvest
  • Produces biodegradable and renewable material
• Regenerated Fibres:

  • Viscose (wood pulp + sodium hydroxide —> filament fibre) (lingerie, linings, furniture)
  • Acetate (cellulose + acetic acid —> cool, easy dying fibre) (sports wear, linings)
• Synthetic fibres:

  • Acrylic (cheap, fur, clothes, furnishings, warm, dirt resistant, can pill and get bobbly when rubbed)
  • Polyester (strong, holds pleat well, easy to wash, sportswear, sheets)
  • Elastane (stretchy, easy to care for, highly flammable, dries well, leggings, tights, can be blended with other materials to improve their elasticity)
• Fabric Construction


  Weaving:

  Threads placed on a loom (warp), other threads passed over and under (weft). Different combinations of warp and weft produce different textures and patterns.

  Woven fabrics:

  • Plain (1 under, 1 over) (bedding)
  • Twill (1 under, 2 over) (denim, tartan) (stronger, diagonal pattern)
  • Satin (ribbon)
  • Jacquard (using CAD, upholstery)
  • Knitted (insulating, fleece)
• Non-woven fabrics:

  • Layers of fibre glued or forced together
  • No direction to fibre so no fraying when cut
  • Quick to make (surgical scrubs, dish cloths)
  • Not stretchy
  • Not strong
• Automated Production Lines:

  • Intelligent machines
  • Products are made more accurately and quickly
  • Fewer workers needed
  • Human error reduced
  • Improved efficiency
• Efficient Workflow:

  • Efficient building layout
  • Time between processes is reduced
  • Saves money, time and waste
• Virtual Modelling:

  • Use of CAD to explore designs
  • CAT analyses strength and efficiency of products
  • Saves money, time and waste
• Virtual Workspaces:

  • Teams can collaborate remotely
  • Use of CAM for prototypes
  • No need for rented offices or travel, so expenses are reduced.
• Crowd-funding:

  • Online platform
  • Designers can pitch ideas and ask for funding
  • Small contributions from many people
  • Provides finances for project
• Virtual Marketing:

  • Use of popular media platforms
  • Reaches a wide audience
  • Celebrities can help promotion
  • Search engines can be optimised to display website at top
• Co-operative:

  • A group sharing a common goal or interest
  • Comprised of the workforce and the customers
  • Equal share and say
• Fairtrade:

  • More equality for developing countries
  • Fair price
  • Good working conditions
  • Protection of working and living environments
• LCA:

  • Measures the impact of a product on the environment
  • Extraction of raw materials —> manufacture and assembly —> transportation —> use —> disposal
  • To reduce: alternative materials or manufacturing processes, local materials or factories, reducing parts, alternative energy sources, and recycling
  • To reduce disposal damage: recycling schemes, the return of electrical products, re-usable/replaceable parts, financial incentives.
• Technology Push:

  • New technology leads to a new product
  • Not led by customer demand
  • Leads to innovative, varied choices
  • e.g. Touchscreen technology, Dyson’s cyclone technology
• Market Pull:

  • Customer demand
  • Increases brand loyalty and attracts new customers
  • e.g. selfies (forward-facing cameras), biodegradable products
• Choice:

  • People can shop internationally
  • Wide range of choice
  • So the market is competitive
  • So the prices are low
• Changing Job Roles:

  • Technology is advancing
  • Human jobs are being replaced
  • People now need transferrable and adaptable skills
• Fashion:

  • People want the newest product
  • Fashion constantly evolves
  • More opportunies for designers
• Faith:

  • There is a large variety of beliefs
  • Products must not offend beliefs
  • e.g. some carrier bags use animal fat to prevent sticking, meaning they cannot be used by some religions
• Inclusivity:

  • Adjustable push chair handles
  • Different sizes of clothes
• Accessibility:

  • Wheelchair friendly doors
  • Lifts
• Improvement:

  • 3D printing for facial reconstruction
• Religion:

  • Communication with different groups is vital
  • e.g. Modest swimwear for Muslim women
  • e.g. Umbro released trainers called “Zyklon”, which cause huge offence; the Nazis used Zyklon B crystals to murder Jewish people in WW2
• Environment:

  • Waste harms the environment
  • Small improvements are being made
  • e.g. Planned production lines, factories are set up close to sources, and only the necessary amount of material is used.
• Automation:

  • Computers run the production line
  • Reduces the need for skilled workers
  • Reduces human error
• CAD:

  • Detailed designs
  • Can be used to model ideas
  • Automatically produces working drawings
  • Virtual assembly
  • Alterations can be made quickly
  • Can aid market research
  • Can calculate optimal material width
  • Can simulate tests without waste
  • Used to program CAM
• CAM:

  • Uses code from CAD to program machines
  • e.g. laser cutters, milling machines, CNC sewing machines
• Flexible manufacturing:

  • Use of automated machines
  • Easily re-programmable
  • Use of robot arms
  • Machines can restock shelves, transfer and assemble parts, and check quality.
• Just In Time Manufacturing:

  • Makes use of close relations with the supplier
  • Materials are delivered just as they are needed
  • Minimises waste
  • No need for storage space in factory
  • Product runs can be easily changed
  • Production is delayed if the suppliers encounter a problem
  • Cannot cope with unexpected demand
• Lean Manufacturing:

  • Looks at the whole process
  • The main aim is to maximise efficiency
  • An effective product with minimum waste
  • Makes use of efficient working, JIT, continuous improvement, quality assurance and feedback.
• Planned obsolescence:

  • A product is designed to last a specific amount of time
  • So customers have to buy new parts and sales are maintained
  • Poor materials used
  • Replacing costs less than repairing
  • Continual upgrades in software or aesthetics (fashion)