Why is an interview with the client useful at the research stage?

An interview lets the designer explore the client's needs in depth and clarify uncertainties. Follow-up questions draw out requirements the client had not stated.

What is a user trial of an existing product?

A user trial is watching real users operate a product and recording difficulties. Observed problems are often more reliable than users' own descriptions.

What is anthropometric data?

Anthropometric data is measurements of the human body, such as hand width or reach. Designers use the data to size products for the intended range of users.

CCEA A-Level Technology and Design 8900

Material Selection and Wood

Topic overview Material selection criteria Physical and mechanical properties Hardwoods, softwoods and timber stock sizes Pine, ash, beech, oak and mahogany Manufactured boards Wood finishes, veneers and laminates

Metals

Topic overview Ferrous and non-ferrous metals and alloys Metal stock forms and sizes Aluminium, copper, brass and zinc Carbon steels and stainless steel Finishes for metals

Plastics

Topic overview Thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics HDPE, LDPE and PET Polystyrene and PVC Acrylic, nylon and ABS Melamine-formaldehyde and epoxy resins

Composite and Emerging Materials

Topic overview Thermochromic and photochromic materials Phosphorescent pigments, reflective films and holograms Liquid crystal displays PEEK, PPSU and graphene

Processing Materials

Topic overview Wasting with hand tools Manual and CNC machine tools Rolling, blanking, press forming and forging Injection and blow moulding Rotational moulding and vacuum forming Sand casting, die casting and extrusion

Product Analysis and Design Communication

Topic overview Form, function, performance and aesthetics Cost, materials, manufacture and environmental issues Target audience, anthropometrics, culture and safety Design briefs, research and specifications Creativity, innovation and sustainability in design Freehand sketching and mixed media

Design for Manufacture, Quality and Safety

Topic overview CAD modelling, virtual imaging and rapid prototyping CAM and CIM Factor of safety and tolerances Testing and inspection of products Risks in workshop and manufacturing processes

Electronic Control SystemsOption A

Topic overview Control systems, feedback and electronics safety Resistors, Ohm's law and power ratings Capacitors and RC timing Potential dividers, sensors and comparators Switches, pull-up and pull-down resistors Output devices and LEDs Transistors, Darlington pairs and thyristors Logic gates, truth tables and flip-flops 555 monostable and astable timers

Microelectronic Control SystemsOption A

Topic overview Microcontroller systems, ADCs and DACs Strain gauges and bridge circuits Optical switches, encoded discs and Schmitt triggers Op-amp amplifiers and gain Zener diodes and voltage regulators Karnaugh maps and binary counters Seven-segment, LCD and dot matrix displays PIC flowcharts and programming DC motors, stepper motors and driver circuits

Mechanical and Pneumatic ComponentsOption B

Topic overview Open and closed loop mechanical and pneumatic control Safe working with compressed air and mechanisms Levers, linkages and moments Gear types and gear trains Pulleys, belts, chains and shaft fixings Cams, cranks and converting motion Compressed air supply and pneumatic valves Cylinders, shuttle valves, restrictors and reservoirs Pneumatic circuits for logic, timing and speed control

Mechanical and Pneumatic SystemsOption B

Topic overview Hydraulics, system limitations and plant safety Torque, work, power and air consumption Vacuum handling, proximity sensors and 5/3 valves Sequential and cascade pneumatic circuits Cam profiles and follower displacement diagrams Gear geometry, pulley blocks and ratchets Toggles, treadles, shafts and couplings Friction, brakes and clutches Bearings, lubrication and seals

Designing and Manufacturing ProductsOption C

Topic overview Research, questionnaires and specifications Idea generation, critiques and computer simulation Manufacturing planning and product evaluation CFRP, GRP, Kevlar and tungsten carbide Smart materials, nanotechnology and biophotovoltaics Isometric, perspective and assembly drawing Laminating, steam bending, cutting and printing processes Risk assessment and product safety law Scales of production, JIT and cell production Quality assurance, ISO 9001 and continuous improvement Design influences and intellectual property rights

Product Design in Industry and SocietyOption C

Topic overview Life-cycle environmental impact and climate change The 6Rs, waste and environmental legislation Sustainable metals, plastics and degradable polymers Product life cycles, consumer types and relaunches CAD, CAM, 3D scanning and quick-change moulding Market pull, technology push and market strategy Price, place and promotion Jigs, fixtures and ICT in quality control Design for maintenance, inclusion and scale production Rendering, typography and presentation Dyson, Baylis, Memphis and Apple

Product Development

Topic overview Choosing a product to redesign Analysing the function and fitness for purpose of existing products Materials, manufacture and sustainability of existing products Ergonomic and aesthetic analysis Redesign modifications, sketching and viability Modelling, testing and evaluating a redesign

Product and System Design and Manufacture

Topic overview Clients, end users and design briefs Researching existing solutions and writing a specification Generating and appraising design proposals Developing a concept with numerical analysis, ergonomics and aesthetics Working drawings and planning manufacture Testing and evaluating a prototype

Product and System Design and Manufacture

Researching existing solutions and writing a specification

3 things to know
A2 2

Overview

Analysing existing solutions, disassembly, questionnaires, client interviews and user trials, anthropometric data and percentiles, measurable specifications, referencing and British Standards.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

Why does a designer analyse existing solutions to a problem?

Key term

What is product disassembly as a research technique?

Key term

How can a questionnaire support design research?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
Why does a designer analyse existing solutions to a problem?
Model answer
Analysing existing solutions shows what already works, what fails and where there is room to improve. The analysis prevents the designer repeating others' mistakes.
2
What is product disassembly as a research technique?
Model answer
Product disassembly is taking an existing product apart to study its components, materials and assembly methods. Disassembly reveals how a product was manufactured and where costs were saved.
3
How can a questionnaire support design research?
Model answer
A questionnaire collects the views of many potential users quickly. Closed questions give data that can be counted, and open questions reveal reasons.
4
Why is an interview with the client useful at the research stage?
Model answer
An interview lets the designer explore the client's needs in depth and clarify uncertainties. Follow-up questions draw out requirements the client had not stated.
5
What is a user trial of an existing product?
Model answer
A user trial is watching real users operate a product and recording difficulties. Observed problems are often more reliable than users' own descriptions.
6
What is anthropometric data?
Model answer
Anthropometric data is measurements of the human body, such as hand width or reach. Designers use the data to size products for the intended range of users.

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Material Selection and Wood

Metals

Plastics

Composite and Emerging Materials

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The output voltage is V.

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