Design and Making Principles

• Primary market research collects research data first-hand for a specific purpose. It is created by those needing the data.
• Secondary market research gives access to information created by others. There are vast amounts of secondary market research data available to access.
• Primary Data

  • Sources: interviews, questionnaires, surveys, focus groups, case studies etc
  • Advantages: data is up to date and relevant, questions and surveys can be tailored to specific needs.
  • Disadvantages: large number of people needed, data gathering is time consuming
• Secondary Data

  • Sources: government data, articles from books, the internet, company reports, exemplar work from others
  • Advantages: data is already collated and available, data May be free or low cost, huge amount of research is available and accessible.
  • Disadvantages: data may not be up to date, data may not be relevant, data is available for all
• Focus Groups


  • A group of people brought together to share feedback. • Researchers can listen and observe body language and reactions. • More time to give in-depth answers. • Small focus groups are easier to control and keep discussion on topic.
• Interviews

  • Conducted face to face or over the phone
  • Answers can be more detailed
  • Interviews can be recorded
  • Takes longer to summarise the feedback
• Questionnaires

  • Series of questions on paper or online
  • Could include rating style questions
  • Close ended questions
  • Open ended questions
  • Some may not provide enough detail or an honest appraisal
• Product Analysis

  • Function
  • Aesthetics
  • Form
  • Ergonomics
  • Materials used
  • Cost and retail price
  • Sustainability/ environmental impact
  • Customer feedback
  • Manufacturing process
• Ergonomics 


  Ergonomics is the process of designing products and workplaces to fit the people who use them. It improves the human interaction with a product, environment or workspace, and minimises the risk of injury.
• Desks

  • Many people sit at desks for long periods of time
  • If the height of the chair, computer and desk are not aligned to the user, then it can cause repetitive strain injury.
  • Designers can minimise this by considering the measurements of humans when designing products.
• Anthropometric Data

  • The study of the human body, its measurements and proportions
  • Data is collected from a large sample of people
  • Weight measurements are also taken to understand the stress or load a component may need to withstand.
• Percentiles

  • Designers normally design products to fit the 5th-90th percentile.
  • This means the product will work for 90% of the population.
  • For the lowest 5% and the top 5%, the product will not work so well.
• Qualitative Data


  Provides an insight into thoughts, opinions and is often expressed in words. Represented in videos, audio, documents and reports.
• Quantitative Data


  Generates numerical or measurable data, or data that can be use in statistics. Represented in pie charts, spreadsheets, graphs and charts.
• Design Brief


  Often supplied by the client, it outlines their expectations for a product.

  This includes:

  • Purpose
  • Target Market
  • Budget and timescale
  • Where it will be sold
  • Where and how it will be used
• Once an idea or design has been developed it will go through further analysis and market research to help develop the design and identify any problems.

  The findings and conclusions are presented to the client. This stage of the process is crucial as the investigation and research may suggest that the design concept needs rethinking or may not be worth producing at all.
• Design Specification

  • What
  • Who
  • Why
  • How much
  • How long
  • Materials and aesthetics
  • Environment
  • Safety
  • Measurables
• Modifying a design brief

  Specification checks, research and analysis continue throughout the design process, in order to identify any unexpected issues or problems and resolve them as soon as possible.

  During testing of a prototype, designers may discover errors in dimensions, that a material isn't strong enough or a selected finish isn't hard wearing enough. Adjustments or changes in methods will need to be made and the earlier this is done, the less impact it will have on time and cost.
• Manufacturing Specification

  • Assembly
  • Annotations
  • Equipment
  • Materials
  • Quantities
  • Dimensions
  • Quality control
• Fair trade


  Aims to offer improved terms of trade to local producers and workers
• Buying fair trade goods


  • Helps to support local communities
  • Allows local communities to afford to develop and improve the methods of production
• Many farmers cannot compete with highly subsidised producers


  Will be offered poor rates for their products
• Fair trade organisations


  • Give farmers an alternative route to market
  • Ensure a higher and stable income for farmers
• Fair trade cotton


  • Often grown in an ethical and environmentally friendly way
  • Helps countless workers who work in the cotton farms in developing countries
• Textile designers can source fair trade cotton
• Deforestation


  The permanent removal of trees and clearing the land for construction or other uses
• The timber may be used as fuel, construction or manufacturing
• Effects of deforestation


  • Contributing to global warming
• Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC)


  Certifies materials which are sourced from sustainably managed forests
• Sustainably managed forests


  • Use selective logging and replanting to create a cycle of productivity that doesn't harm the forest environment
• Increased use of recycled paper and timber materials avoids more trees being felled
• Changes in energy sources and methods of manufacturing can also help manufacturers reduce their carbon footprint and impact on global warming
• Harry Beck


  A technical draftsman who visually simplified the layout of the London Underground by producing a clear and simple map layout of the tube system. He transformed the way people navigate around London's underground network and his design has influenced many other underground maps around the world.
• Sir Norman Foster 


  Award winning British architect known for his striking architecture and high-tech vision. His practice 'Foster + Partners' are known for the Millennium Bridge, Great Court at the British Museum, City Hall, 30 St Mary Axe (the Gherkin) in London, Reichstag in Berlin and a host of other buildings around the world.
• William Morris


  A significant contributor to the British Arts and Crafts Movement, Morris is renowned for his block printed fabrics and wallpapers. His designs were influenced by nature with beautiful patterns of intertwined flowers, leaves and birds.
• Dame Mary Quant 


  Famous for bringing the mini skirt to popularity along with her shiny raincoats and 'paint box' make-up. Her geometric mod style epitomised the sixties fashion era.
• Philippe Starck


  French designer, Starck has produced many iconic products such as the Juicy Salif, as part of his collaboration with Alessi. His designs are innovative, sleek with a touch of humour and often use organic forms. His designs include household items, furniture and interiors.
• Alessi


  Founded by Giovanni Alessi in 1921 originally producing metal tableware. Alessi expanded into producing many household items, collaborating with industrial designers such as Aldo Rossi, Ettore Sottsass and Phillipe Starck. Their products are recognisable for the use of colour, and fun design.
• Apple


  An American technology company that is best known for its designs of personal computers, the iPhone and portable media players such as the iPod. Aggie Watch and Apple TV Their ethos of combining stylish design with a great user experience has made them the world's largest technology company, with a high level of brand loyaity
• Dyson 


  in 1978 James Dyson made improvements to the traditional vacuum cleaner. Five years and 5.127 iterations later he developed the first bagless cleaner. Dyson Ltd is now a global technology company producing household products with quality and functionality at the top of its agenda