Investigating the Design Context p.1 Context: Designer Influences Important Features I need to find out more information about existing MP3 speaker products so I can see which components need to be included. I will create a mood board based on the Bauhaus design movement so that I can use it to inspire my design ideas. I would like to find out the preferences of my target market so that I can make sure the design is suitable for their tastes. Name: Miss Swinburne Candidate Number: Centre No: To help me respond to the brief, I need to analyse the task so that I can start my initial research. Task Analysis Key Information Company: Home Luxe Mail Order Company Target Market: year old, Young Professionals Design Movement: Bauhaus Conclusion Design Conscious consumer market -The product must be stylish and fashionable so that it suits a design conscious consumer. Prototypes not copies - It is important that I use Bauhaus as an inspiration to help me create a unique product but that it is not a copy of an existing design. “In the style of” - My product will reflect the style of the design movement so that it can be identified by the consumer. Mail Order Company - The product must be suitable to be sold from a mail order company called Home Luxe so it must be sutiable to be packaged and posted out to the consumer. 20 th Century Design Movement – To meet the design brief, I must make sure that I use my chosen movement as an inspiration point so that it fits the company’s product range. MP3 Docking Station – My product must be an MP3 docking station that is aimed at a style conscious consumer market year olds – I have chosen this age group as my chosen design movement will suit the modern and simple style preference of this age group. Bauhaus – The bright colours and bold shapes in this style of design will work well for a product such as a MP3 docking station.

1. Size My product must no bigger than 20cm x 20cm at the base because my target market did not want it to take up much room in their homes. 2. Aesthetics My product must be made using primary colours- Red, Blue and Yellow and using bold and simple shapes. This is because these are the qualities of the Bauhaus design movement that my speaker is based on. This look is also fashionable and suits my target market. 2. Consumer Needs My product will be aimed at year old young professionals because the design movement that I have chosen reflects the preference for simple and unique products. This age range are interested in buying creative and interesting art products for their homes and they have disposable income to do so. They also are interested in the latest digital and electronic products. 3. Company My product must fit in with the Home Luxe mail order company product range because it will be sold alongside their other products so must fit with their brand identity. The product must be suitable size to be posted and packaged easily to the consumer. 4. Function My product must be able to connect to an iPhone or MP3 player through an AUX cable because it needs to be able to connect universally to a range of products. 5. Quality My product must be manufactured to a high quality because my target market said that the quality was an important factor when they are buying new electronic products. 6. Cost My product cost between £20-30 because this is the price range of existing MP3 speakers and my product needs to be in line with other products. My target market survey revealed that the disposable income of my consumer is around £150 so the product would be suitable for purchase. 7. Durability My product must be durable enough that it has a life span of 2-5 years. This is because it will have less impact on the environment if it is high quality and lasts longer so less need to be manufactured and disposed of at the end of their life cycle. 8. Safety My product must be wired correctly because as it is an electronic product and must be safe for the consumer to use. My product must house all of the speaker components inside because this will protects them so they will not get damaged easily. My product must come with packaging that advises how to dispose of batteries safely because they are not intended to be put into general rubbish bins. 9. Materials My product will be made of MDF or acrylic because these materials are relatively inexpensive to use so that the cost can stay at £20-30 as stated in the specification. 10. Sustainability – its impact on the environment eg. Pollution, waste material, recycling My product must have a minimal impact on the environment by considering the use of recycled materials for manufacture. Careful planning and use of resources to ensure that there is a minimum amount of materials wasted for minimum impact on environment. My product must consider the amount of processes and machinery that are used because the less processes that are involved, there is less pollution and CO2 emissions into the atmosphere from the manufacture. 11. Scale of Production If my product was being manufactured commercially- it would use batch production as this will be a limited edition product range based on Bauhaus that Home Luxe would like to sell to their consumers. The set up costs for the machinery would therefore be less high that mass production. If the product proved popular, the company could instruct another batch of products to be made. Research Analysis & Design Specification P4 ResearchHoped to find outDiscoveredDesign criteria Existing designs I wanted to know the average cost of MP3 speakers. I wanted to look at shapes of existing products. I found that most existing products cost between £ I found that most speakers are cube shaped. -My product must cost between £20-£30 -My product to have an unusual shape to make it a unique product. Target market (Survey/ Questionnaire) I wanted to know what specific requirements that my target market are looking for I found that my target market want a high quality and stylish product that they can use every 1-2 days. It must be space saving for use in an apartment -My product must be made of high quality materials as it will be used often. -My product must be no bigger than 20cm x 20cm to save space in the home. The theme (Mood Board) I wanted to know the types of colour and shapes I need to look at for Bauhaus design style. I found that the Bauhaus style uses primary colour and strong use of black lines and strong shapes. There is a gap in the market for a speaker of this style. -My product must have a Bauhaus theme and use primary colours and simple shapes -My product must reflect the Bauhaus theme to create a unique product. Product Analysis I wanted to know what components are needed to make a speaker I found that the speaker I looked at could easily unscrew to be able to access the inside. It has 2 speakers, wires grille. It should be battery operated. -My product should be easily opened to change the battery. -- My product must include all the components to play music through the speakers. Research Analysis Design Specification Conclusion I carried out the research because I wanted to find out how an MP3 speaker fits together so that I know what has to be inside my product. I have discovered that there are many Bauhaus inspired MP3 speakers so I can develop a unique product to appeal to my target market Customer Profile My customer is aged years old. My customer is interested in modern and simple designs to stand out in their home. They are looking for unique products. My customer is looking for a product that they can use every 1-2 days. My customer has a disposable income of £150 each month. My customer likes to have the latest electronic products and keeps up with digital trends. My company is called Home Luxe and sells a variety of stylish products for the modern and design conscious consumer. Home Luxe is a mail order company and distribute catalogues through a variety of trend related magazines such as GQ and Tatler. They also have a Home Luxe website which they sell their product range through. My client want to sell products that are fashionable and unique. They want to identify gaps in the market and sell product ranges which appeal to the modern home owner that wants aesthetics aswell as function. I created the company logo below for Home Luxe to reflect the simple and stylish product range that appeal to their customers. Company Profile