Topics Covered: Modelling, Raw Materials, Innovation and Design, Classic Design

Introduction

This project will focus on:

• Identifying needs, briefs and specifications
• Creativity and innovation.
• How to develop practical solutions to meet real needs for specific markets.
• Market pull and technology push.
• Incremental/radical design.
• Product life cycle and the design cycle.
• Modelling techniques.
• Evaluating designs/models.

Task: Your task is to address a need; which is to improve the design of a household product. The product can be electrical, mechanical or something simple we use every day in and around our homes. First brainstorm and select a product, then analyse the design and identify a realistic need for an improvement in its design. In your brief, identify what needs to be improved and how you propose to do it. Specify the areas to be addressed in your redesign.

After choosing the product, briefly analyse it by looking at function, aesthetics, fitness for purpose, materials, safety, ergonomics etc. After some quick research and testing, suggest how to make the product better through a series of design drawings using various graphical communication techniques. Focus on using a variety of methods; from napkin sketches, freehand annotated sketches, to a set of working drawings and 3D presentation drawings. Produce card and CAD models that are evaluated against the specifications and with your target audience.

You will then conclude by evaluating your designs and conducting a survey with your potential target audience to determine whether your proposed improvements were well received.

Requirements:

A4 format portfolio to include:

Criteria A:

• Title page
• Brainstorm ideas (spider diagram)
• Description of the problem or design opportunity
• Key findings from market and user research
• Design brief
• An example (photograph) and analysis of the product you choose to modify
• A detailed product specification stating how you will improve your chosen product
• A detailed market specification stating how you will improve your chosen product

Criteria  B:

• Explicit documentation of design thinking
• Development of ideas
• Concept modelling
• Chosen solution that is justified
• A short survey (with results and analysis) of the perceived success of your idea
• An evaluation of the procedure and a conclusion which clearly refers back to your need, brief and specification

Length: Check IB recommendations

Assessment: Criteria A & B

Due date: TBA

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Adapted from my friend Noor P