IB Design and Technology Product Design The Designer and Society

Social Responsibility Brainstorm: List ways in which society places a social and moral responsibility on the work of a designer in relation to green design issues. Consider: Waste Pollution Resources Market forces Wealth creation

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Video clip: marketing bicycle helmets.mpg

Conflict Design is all about finding compromise between conflicting requirements. One of the most common areas where this conflict arises is between form and function. There is often tension between : Aesthetic characteristics and functionality Aesthetic characteristics and safety issues Aesthetic characteristics and cost Aesthetic characteristics and value for money

Planned Obsolescence A conscious act either to ensure a continuing market or to ensure that safety factors and new technologies can be incorporated into later versions of the product. When a product becomes obsolete it means the product has broken down and is non-repairable or that it is too expensive to repair or it is simply out-dated. Obsolescence can happen as technology improves. Example: the Word Processor is taking the place of the typewriter. Thus the typewriter will soon be obsolete. But obsolescence is not always left to the natural progress of technology.

Planned Obsolescence and the Consumer Brainstorm: List advantages and disadvantages of Planned Obsolescence to the consumer. AdvantagesDisadvantages

Planned Obsolescence and the Manufacturer Brainstorm: List advantages and disadvantages of Planned Obsolescence to the Manufacturer. AdvantagesDisadvantages

Planned Obsolescence and the PDS Brainstorm: How does Planned Obsolescence affect the designer when developing the Product Design Specification for a product? Consider: Materials and construction Durability Ease of maintenance

Fashion A style or trend. How many people have perfectly good clothes hanging in the wardrobe which they would not wear now, because they are “old-fashioned” even though they may be only a couple of years old? The clothes industry, furniture industry, car industry and music industry all use fashion trends to outdate last years model and maintain a healthy market for new products. Aesthetic considerations of shape and form, texture and colour affect the design of a product. What is in fashion today will not be in fashion in 6 months.

The Product Cycle

Influences on the Product Cycle Compare the influences of fashion and planned obsolescence on the product cycle. Planned obsolescence has a definite timescale; fashion is less predictable. Both may be present in a design (e.g. a certain colour may be fashionable for a car) but this does not affect materials or technological obsolescence.

Perceived Quality and Value for Money Are “designer” brands automatically better than cheaper alternatives? What affect does our “Kleenex culture” have on the Product Cycle? What affect does Planned Obsolescence and Fashion changes have on conserving natural resources, waste and pollution? Consider the influence of fashion and planned obsolescence on the product cycle, i.e. a shorter cycle means more use of raw materials and energy in obtaining the materials, manufacturing and disposing of the materials. Also consider waste and pollution at each stage of the cycle.

Waste and Recycling How can a designer affect the environmental impact of a product?

Form versus function Look at the power point: Bad human factors design and evaluate each of the products that face a conflict of form over function.