It is important to understand that when designing useful, user-friendly products the needs of the end user have to be considered. However it is also important to remember that technologies can shape and transform users’ needs and behaviours.
A relatively recent example would include Apple introducing the iPad to the market. Prior to this, tablets had existed but were not in common usage. Now many people use tablets in place of laptop computers.
Profile your target user
It’s important to begin the design process by identifying the type of customer likely to purchase and use your product.
A simple way to do this is to answer the following questions:
- What is the gender of the likely user?
- What age are they likely to be?
- Where do they live?
- Where do they work?
- What needs do they have from your product?
- What makes your product different from anything else on the market?
- What are your likely customers going to consider before purchasing your product?
- How does the cost of your product influence the likelihood of purchase?
Human Factors
Social, cultural, moral and environmental issues
The opportunity for new products arises from many factors including customer need and developments in technology. Design of new products has to take into account a broad range of issues, including social, cultural, market and environmental factors.
Technology push
Technology push is when products are re-designed or re-developed because of changes in the manufacturing process, which can reduce production costs or the introduction of new materials to the market to improve a product or reduce its costs.
Market pull
Market pull is when new products are produced in response to market forces. Examples of market influences include:
- A demand from consumers for new or improved products due to changing needs
- A similar competing product is launched by another manufacturer
- A manufacturer wants to increase their market share
- Environmental issues
The manufacturing of products uses resources, such as energy and raw materials, which have an impact on the environment.
There are a number of things that a designer might look at to reduce environmental impact.
Materials Used
Obviously the fewer materials you use the less the likely environmental impact. Designers should then be asking themselves can the same needs be fulfilled if the product was smaller or thinner. Could the same results be achieved using alternative more sustainable materials?
Wood
Timber is a renewable resource, which means that if forests and woodlands are carefully managed, we will never run out of it. Timber is easy to reuse and can be burnt to produce heat when at the end of its natural life. It is also biodegradable.
Metals
Most metals are relatively easy to recycle and reuse, and there are advantages for manufacturers. It is 20 times more efficient to recycle aluminium cans than to make new ones.
Plastics
Although most plastics are not biodegradable, they can be recycled and reused. Polystyrene vending cups can be recycled to make items such as pencils and rulers, and plastic carrier bags can be reused.
The 6 Rs
The 6 Rs are a checklist that designers should use to reduce the environmental impact of their products.
The 6Rs stand for:
Reduce - Is it possible to reduce the volume of materials used to help protect scarce resources?
Rethink - Can the problem be solved in a way that is less damaging to the environment?
Refuse - Don’t accept anything that is not the best option for the environment.
Recycle - Can you use recycled materials? Can the materials used be easily recycled?
Reuse - Can the product have another future use? Could its parts be used in other products?
Repair - Is the product easy and cost effective to repair to extend its life?
