Product analysis

• Product analysis


  Researching and analysing existing products to get ideas for your own designs and help write the design specification
• Things to consider when analysing a product

  • Function
  • Form
  • Ergonomics
  • Competition and cost
  • Sustainability
  • Materials
  • Manufacture
• Disassembling a product


  1. Make careful notes

  2. Record components used and structure using sketches or photos
• Form


  The shape and look of the product, e.g. colour, texture and decoration
• Ergonomics


  Designing products so their size and proportions fit the users' needs
• Designers use body measurement data (anthropometrics) to ensure the product is the right size and shape
• Competition and cost


  Considering value for money and how the product performs compared to similar products
• Sustainability


  Considering the environmental impact of making and using the product
• Most cars produce carbon dioxide (which causes global warming) and various other pollutants
• Materials


  • Looking at what materials have been used and why those were chosen
• Manufacture


  1. Considering all the processes used to make the product

  2. Checking if any parts have been assembled separately (subassembly)
• It's important to record the findings of your product analysis so you can remember and compare to other products
• Once you've considered all aspects of the product, you should make an evaluation of what does or doesn't work and how effective the different features are
• Environmental impacts of materials

  • Some materials are toxic
  • Many materials are made from finite resources
  • Products using recycled materials are more environmentally friendly
  • Sustainable materials like wood, paper and cotton are better
• Softwoods (which can be regrown in a person's lifetime) are a better choice than hardwoods (which take ages to grow)
• Wood and paper from ethical sources (e.g. sustainably managed forests) won't contribute to deforestation
• Many products are thrown away - it's good if these are made from biodegradable or recyclable materials
• Environmental and social impacts of manufacturing processes

  • Pollution from waste material
  • Energy use
  • Working conditions for workers
• Manufacturers should try to use renewable energy sources like wind power or hydroelectricity
• Fairtrade


  Ensures producers get a fair price, provides social benefits to workers, and has environmental standards
• Designers may deliberately choose to use Fairtrade materials in their products over those with fewer social and environmental benefits
• It's important to consider the environmental impacts of a product