R&D (Research and Development)

A process of investigating and creating new products or improving existing ones through innovation and experimentation.

Why is R&D important?

R&D drives innovation, improves product quality, and ensures competitiveness in the market.

What does R&D involve?

Scientific and technical investigation and experimentation, often involving risk.

Example of R&D

Developing biodegradable packaging through material testing and prototyping.

Speculative Thinking

Synthesising and evaluating information and ideas while critically and creatively thinking to imagine and design future possibilities.

Why is speculative thinking important?

It encourages visionary design and innovation, fosters creativity, leads to breakthrough products, and helps create improved futures.

What is future-focused designing?

Focusing on future possibilities in design and decision-making.

What questions do designers ask when using speculative thinking?

"What if?", "What will this mean in the future?", and "Is this idea ethical, sustainable, or realistic long-term?"

Example of speculative thinking

Designing wearable technology that monitors health or conceptualising furniture for micro-apartments.

Entrepreneurial Activities

Actions taken towards starting, developing, or managing a new business or innovative venture, usually involving risk, creativity, and the intention to make a profit or create value.

Why are entrepreneurial activities important?

They support economic growth, job creation, and personal enterprise.

Example of an entrepreneurial activity

Launching a sustainable fashion brand or crowdfunding a new kitchen gadget.

Environmental Issues

Concerns about the impact of technologies and products on the natural environment, including resource use, pollution, waste, and ecological sustainability.

Economic Issues

Factors affecting cost, affordability, financial accessibility, and economic viability, including production costs, market competitiveness, and job creation or loss.

Social Issues

Impacts on individuals and communities, including health, safety, equity, inclusion, employment, and how people interact with technologies.

Worldview Issues

Broader philosophical, cultural, or ideological perspectives, including how technologies align with values, beliefs, traditions, and visions for the future.

Sustainability Considerations

How technologies support or impact long-term environmental, economic, and social balance.

What are the 3 pillars of sustainability?

Environmental, economic, and social.

Ethical Considerations

Moral questions about fairness, responsibility, and integrity, including privacy, safety, transparency, consent, and responsible use of technology.

Environmental issue example

Using recycled materials to reduce waste.

Social issue example

Designing inclusive products for diverse users.

Economic issue example

Balancing cost with quality in production.

Worldview issue example

Respecting cultural values in design.

Sustainability example

Creating long-lasting, repairable products that are made locally by a company that embraces fair trade practices.

Ethical issue example

Avoiding exploitation in manufacturing.

Market Research

The process of gathering information about people and their needs, including who wants which products, where they live, how much they are prepared to pay, and how best to make the product known to them.

Why is market research important?

It informs design decisions, reduces risk, improves product relevance, and ensures products are connected with the end user.

Primary Research

Research where information is gathered directly, such as conducting surveys to understand user preferences.

Secondary Research

Research using existing information, such as online reviews, ratings, or industry publications.

Product (Market Research)

What features do people want and what makes the product appealing to the target group?

Price (Market Research)

What price will people pay? It is determined by what people are prepared to pay.

Place (Market Research)

Where can the product be purchased and where is it advertised?

Promotion (Market Research)

How will people know about the product? It communicates key information about the product.

People (Market Research)

Who will buy the product? People are broadly placed into target groups according to personal factors.

Product Development Process

A process used for commercial products in mass or low-volume production, moving from an abstract concept through design, production, distribution, retail, and evaluation.

Is the product development process relevant to one-off products?

No. It is for commercial products in mass or low-volume production.

Stage 1: Product Concept / Identifying the Need

Recognising a real-world problem, opportunity, or gap in the market, while defining the product's purpose and end user.

Stage 2: Market Research and R&D

Gathering information about user needs, preferences, and trends while experimenting with materials, tools, and processes to explore possible solutions.

Stage 3: Design and Prototyping Development

Generating and refining ideas through sketches, models, and prototypes, including testing and iterating to develop a final proof of concept.

Stage 4: Production and Distribution

Making the final product using selected materials, tools, and processes, and planning how it will be delivered or made available to users.

Stage 5: Retail and Consumer Use

Selling or distributing the product to the end user, including packaging, marketing, and observing how it is used in real-world settings.

Stage 6: Product Evaluation and Modification

Gathering feedback and data to assess success, leading to improvements, redesigns, or updates based on user experience and performance.

Quantitative Data

Numerical, measurable data collected to assess a product's performance.

Advantages of quantitative data

Objective and measurable; easy to compare; efficient for large samples; supports data-driven decisions; useful for performance testing.

Disadvantages of quantitative data

Lacks depth and context; may miss user experience nuances; can be misleading without context; requires careful design of tools; not suitable for all aspects of evaluation.

What does quantitative data look like?

Numerical data such as measurements, ratings, and statistics.

Examples of collecting quantitative data

Surveys with rating scales, product weight or durability tests, and sales figures or usage statistics.

Qualitative Data

Descriptive, subjective feedback based on user opinions and observations.

Advantages of qualitative data

Rich and detailed insights; explains the "why" behind user responses; flexible and adaptive; useful for early-stage design; supports human-centred design.

Disadvantages of qualitative data

Subjective and hard to measure; time-consuming to collect and analyse; difficult to compare across users; requires skilled interpretation; may miss quantifiable performance issues.

What does qualitative data look like?

Descriptive data such as opinions, observations, and interviews.

Examples of collecting qualitative data

User interviews, focus groups, and observational notes on product use.

Informed Consent

Participants must know what data is being collected and why, and voluntarily agree to take part.

Privacy and Confidentiality

Protect personal information and do not share identifiable data without permission. Anonymous surveys should be used where possible.

Respect and Fair Treatment

Treat all participants respectfully without discrimination or coercion and allow them to withdraw at any time without penalty.

Data Accuracy and Honesty

Record data honestly and accurately and avoid manipulating or falsifying data.

Ethical Data Collection

Collecting information and feedback in a way that respects the rights, privacy, and wellbeing of participants.

Why evaluate products?

To assess functionality, ensure the design meets the brief, test usability and user experience, identify areas for improvement, measure success against feedback and testing, and determine success using design factors.

Step 1 of Product Evaluation

Collect and organise your data by establishing the criteria you will use and focus on.

Step 2 of Product Evaluation

Identify key findings.

Step 3 of Product Evaluation

Compare data to the criteria and design brief.

Step 4 of Product Evaluation

Make connections and draw conclusions.

Step 5 of Product Evaluation

Justify your judgment.

Step 6 of Product Evaluation

Identify areas for improvement.