Design Strategies

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Design Strategies

You need to be able to produce a range of design ideas and solutions for your NEA/coursework. You will need to develop your design ideas through sketching, CAD, modelling, testing and feedback.

Collaboration

Collaboration (working with others) helps you to discuss ideas and solutions to a problem.
You should have a client who is the person you are designing for who has a problem to be solved.
Take time to choose the client and make sure you will be able to have regular discussions about your project and coursework.

Collaboration cont.

Make sure you speak regularly with your client as well as getting feedback from your target market.
A target market is the age/group of people who your product will be aimed at.
By getting feedback from your target market you will be able to make changes and improvements to your product.

User centred design

Your NEA/coursework is based on you understanding the needs of your client and the target market.
Your client needs to be your main focus and you should speak with them about your design work and models to help you throughout the entire coursework.

User centred design cont.

Gather information by:
- Regular interviews and questionnaires.
- Video their reaction to designs and models.
- Get them to test out your model and provide feedback.

Evaluating user centred design

The advantage of this is that your client feels involved and is part of the entire process so you get really good useful feedback.
The disadvantage is that it is extra time and your design can be too focussed on just your client not your overall target market.

Design Strategies

You need to be able to produce a range of design ideas and solutions for your NEA/coursework. You will need to develop your design ideas through sketching, CAD, modelling, testing and feedback.

Systems approach

A systems approach method is good when designing electronic products as you will need to plan how the system is produced.
Input, process, output all requires the order to be correct and this will be reflected in your design work and solutions.

Iterative design

Iterative design is a cycle approach where you are constantly designing, testing and re-designing.
The Dyson company use this approach when manufacturing their vacuum cleaner.
Test one part out and then change it until all the parts are tested and the product comes together.
It does take time but you should move away from just designing the first idea that comes into your head.

Iterative design cont.

Iterative designing is about the refining the design:
- Could it be better?
- What are the alternatives and options?
Only by doing this will you build up and outstanding portfolio and also come up with the best solution/ product.

Design fixation

Design fixation is usually the biggest issue with pupils studying GCSE Design Technology.
Design fixation is when at an early stage you decide what it is you want to design and make and do not take into account other options.

Avoiding design fixation

To avoid design fixation:
- Produce a wide range of initial ideas.
- Do lots of modelling and testing out of ideas.
- Listen and act upon your client feedback and target market feedback.
- Make little changes, look at the options for each part.