Revision Section > Product Design

Topic areas you need to revise:

Materials

• You need to be able to name specific types of materials (i.e. mild steel or aluminium not metal, and acrylic or polypropylene not plastic).
• You should also know which forms these materials can be bought in (sheet, rod, bar etc.)
• How materials can be protected from degradation over time.

Product life cycles

• You need to be able to explain and give examples of a product life cycle (e.g. a shampoo bottle)
• The advantages and disadvantages of re-using and recycling products.
• You will also need to know and be able to explain the meaning of built in obsolescence.

Product Analysis and Design

• You should be able to look at a product and analyse its function, materials and aesthetic appeal.
• You need to know what ergonomics and anthropometrics are, be able to explain the differences between them and know how this information is used in the designing of products.

Product Manufacture

• You need to be able to name all of the manufacturing techniques and give examples of typical products made by each technique.
• You also need to be able to break down and illustrate each part of the manufacturing processes.
• You should also able to describe and illustrate the organisation of people and product in an assembly line situation.
• You should also know and be able to give example of consumer protection.
• You also need to know about quality control and assurance processes.

Work of Other Designers and a Design Movement

• You should be able to discuss and give examples of design style used by a particular designer or during a design movement.