C1 Work with design briefs and specifications
Whilst studying a degree in Digital Media Design I did obtain some skills in working with design briefs and specifications and for this reason I have graded this area of the audit as a 3. However, just because I already have some background in this area I am conscious that it may seem very different when you apply it to Design and Technology. The reason for me stating this is because it appears to be a lot more SPECIFIC. When fabricating a design using digital media the basic principles of design apply however you do not need to use hand tools and processes or physically make it as a 3D object with materials. As a result things like finishes and ergonomics are slightly different when your working in a Design and Technology environment. Therefore, throughout the duration of this course I shall explore and develop my skills in this area of the audit in order to translate and transfer these initial skills and background knowledge in reference to Design and Technology.
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INITIAL understanding of the term Design Brief...
A design brief allows a designer or reader to comprehend your motives when fabricating a product, whether it is a brand new item, an adaptation or even an improvement to a existing product. It can be an explanation of a product and its purpose - what, why and how. In addition, there can be various types of designs briefs - general, referenced, specific, each one can be approached at a different angle. The clue is in the name, a design brief is a very short statement so one should always keep it brief !
Although, in some sense I already have some understanding of what a Design Brief is I wanted to explore further and find out what the Internet's general definition was :
"The design brief tells the reader what you will be doing. Make it brief, you will need to develop the final solution to the problem over many hours. It is an instruction to the Designer telling them what the product must do or be like to be successful "
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design_brief
My INITIAL understanding of the term Specifications...
A Specification is quite simply a list of what the product must do and what it must be like in order to be successful within the brief. Generally speaking it tends to be a lot more detailed in comparison to a design brief. A specification should always be used as a guideline similar to how you would abide to a design brief, I would use the specifications as a guideline. If you are not strict with the specifications then your product will not fit within the design brief or specification. To my knowledge having studied Design and Technology at school I do remember that a Spec list would include the following;
Purpose - Why it has been fabricated? . What the product is.
Form - The product's visual appearance, it's shape and its final stage. Shape and dimensions.
Function - The purpose for which the product is designed or exists. How it works. What it does.
User requirements - The requirements governing the products deliverable expressed by a user. OR
The products capabilities that the product must provide to satisfy users needs and desires.
Ergonomics - There are five aspects of ergonomics: Safety, comfort, ease of use, productivity/performance and aesthetics. Based on these aspects of ergonomics, examples are given of how products systems
benefit from redesign based on ergonomic principles. Target audience perhaps, who needs it?
Aesthetics - This concerns our senses and our responses to an object. If someone is aesthetically pleasing to you, it is 'pleasurable' and you like it. ' Aesthetics involves all of your senses - vision, hearing, touch, taste, and smell - and your emotions. How it will look
Materials and Production cost - What materials you will use and explore and the cost to devise the product during the design period.
There may be other points that you would include within your Spec list but these are the only areas I can remember. Perhaps I can explore this later?
Just like the Design Brief, I wanted to research the Internet definition for what a Specification is:
"A specification (often abbreviated spec) is an explicit set of requirements to be satisfied by a material, product, or service. Should a material, product or service fail to meet one or more of the applicable specifications, it may be referred to as being out of specification. "
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specification_%28technical_standard%29
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What I have learnt and what I understand now ...
During our Design and Make module (SKD02) Bhav explained that a Design brief is created or originates from a CONTEXT.
I learnt that a Context is a:
My CONTEXT for the Design and Make module...
" Students have very busy lives regardless of the stereotypes; in order for any student to reach their full potential organisation, motivation and time management are some areas, which can permit you to succeed when studying at any level. "
My context now clearly informs and addresses the problem to a reader or designer.
So once we had investigated and discovered our own individual problems and created our solution or the CONTEXT, we were taught that the next step in the process is to create a Design Brief. I now have learnt that in reference to Design and Technology a Design Brief is a SOLUTION of the context which is the initial PROBLEM. Also I know now that a context is always connected to a SPECIFICATION ....
My DESIGN BRIEF for the Design and Make module...
"I am going to design and make a contemporary storage cabinet. This product will be different to the generic storage units because it will appear as a piece of contemporary art mounted on a wall yet when you open the cabinet it will reveal, a cork-board and a white board, as well as storage to place stationary and books."
My SPECIFICATIONS for the Design and Make module...
Purpose
The product will be created as a concept that is a piece of furniture that not only allows someone to store and organise their belongings but, also acts as a piece of contemporary and modern art which in turn fits within its surroundings aesthetically. When using the term ‘Art’ the important point to make is that this product is not there to inspire any individual to think different about their surroundings, nor is it to trying to attempt to influence anyone, in some respects it is merely a design that has two purposes, the first and most important is acting as a storage unit for a user, and the second is a piece of art mounted on the wall to conceal the storage unit enabling it to become a contemporary piece. The piece of art will use recycled cans of fizzy drinks and the idea of using rubbish to create beautiful things is being embraced by young artists and designers everywhere. At the moment society are becoming a lot more ecologically aware which therefore allows the piece to be rather current. . This unit will not only suit its purpose as a storage unit but will also blend the recycling ethics with a stylish perspective as a form of art.
Form
The products exterior will be visually attractive as the doors will be disguised in recycled cans giving it a shiny metallic finish which in turn enables it to stand out and catch someone’s eye within the room. The shape will be the standard form for any other storage cabinet eg. Square apart from the doors, they will be shaped as curves for aesthetic purposes. At this point in time I am yet to finalise the dimensions and measurements for the storage cabinet. However, at the moment the following measurements could quite possibly be the size of the final product. Size H45.6, W56, D15cm
Function
The storage cabinet will store folders, stationary and other academic materials that the user requires to file away. There will also be a cork board and a whiteboard. It will quite simply work as a storage cabinet on the wall, a user will open the doors and store their assets and close it the same they would with any other kind of cabinet that has two doors.
User requirements
The product will have enough space within it for a user to keep their academic belongings organised, it shall also have a reasonable sized cork board and white board for notes and any other important materials. The doors will open and close easily and the product will be able to hold the weight of their assets fixated to the wall. The product will also look attractive once closed. It shall quite easily meet any user’s requirements.
Ergonomics
With the five key aspects of ergonomics in mind; the product will need to be stable and firmly positioned when fixed to the wall. It is essential that the shelves will be able to hold the weight of the assets the user stores within it. The size and weight are vital so the product must be portable enough for a single person to move when required. The shape must avoid sharp edges and caution must be taken when creating the front because of the sharp metal edges from the cans. It will be finished to a high safe standard so that the user will not receive any cuts or splinters whilst using it. The doors will open and close easily and the shelves will again hold the weight of the user’s belongings. It will be visually attractive and in some sense fit in within its surroundings. Targeted towards the younger demographic both male and female but also could attract a family with busy lifestyles.
Aesthetics
The cabinet will look well-designed, attractive, appealing as an art piece and as a bit of furniture. It will look contemporary and modern as a cabinet and piece of art.
More Specs pointers...
The example above is quite a detailed specification list. It also does not necessarily cover all of the pointers that you may need to consider when designing a product however I now understand that specifications may vary depending on a product itself. The following aspects mentioned below are other areas which I may reflect and expand upon during the project, but I can also use these factors for future projects to come.
Environment– its effect on the environment is it sustainable. Can the parts be easily replaced?
Competition – are there any other manufactures out there that are similar to the product you are creating? What will make this product unique? Who is their targeted market and what the price of their product is.
Target product costs– The price of the product relating to the targeted markets as well as taking into consideration the competitors prices
Materials - The materials used – the volume of them. How they will work together in terms of conducting electricity or being water proof in other words the properties of the materials and their relationships with each other (their collaborations with one another) -this will always be dependent on the product.
Life in service – How long the product life’s span is, calculating factors such as the amount of use the product will get the materials and in addition where it shall be kept.
Production/Manufacturing – How the product will be produced – batched? How the product will be assembled, where it will be created. The technologies for example software that will aid the design process and production.
Maintenance- Whether the product will need parts replaced after general usage. How it can be cleaned. How products will be replaced
Testing – What the product will be tested for before being realised to the market as such.
Documentation - Does a user need instructions to use the product not only for general usage but also to prevent any damage.
Packaging – This will most likely be dependent on the product but does it need to have packaging?
__________________________________________________________________
Analysis of gained knowledge and the next step
To begin with I feel that even though I did have initial and background knowledge concerning Design Briefs and Specifications, I have now learnt even more when it comes down to approaching this area in a Design and Technology perspective. That is not to say that my initial knowledge mark (3) was too high because I feel that primarily the basic knowledge and the principles were there it was just a case of translating them differently.
Now I am much more confident in using and writing Design briefs and Specifications. Completing a bit of research into design briefs and specifications has also enabled me to expand my knowledge and I can now confidently reflect upon this when faced with future projects. I think what I must insure though is to practice and experiment with the various types of Specifications because some can be very basic and others quite detailed but I have been able to identify that this can be dependent on the product you are designing. At first, what I found difficult is actually being the person who writes the brief and comes up with the context, in my degree we followed a specific brief and context but I felt it went successful. What I found hard and perhaps unsuccessful was to write the specifications initially, I was not sure what pointers I needed to consider at first, mainly I think this was because I had never needed to write a specifications for a 3D object that I was going to actually make with my own hands. Therefore, pointers like health and safety, maintenance, and life in service are some examples that would have never needed to crossed my mind.
The most important thing that I have learnt from this exercise is that I must always reflect and refer to the Specifications when designing in order to insure I am conforming to the designers requirements. The main sources that I found useful during my development and progression within the part of the audit was predominately in taught sessions through Bhav and also learning from my fellow classmates sharing ideas and each other previous knowledge has helped me progress.
Most importantly the next step now is to refer to this in Semester 2 when we have new modules which will undoubtedly require CONTEXTS, BRIEFS, AND SPECIFICATIONS. Hopefully I can then develop this further and create better and more structured contexts, briefs and specs. I will most likely include these at a later stage.
____________________________________________________________________
INITIAL understanding of the term Design Brief...
A design brief allows a designer or reader to comprehend your motives when fabricating a product, whether it is a brand new item, an adaptation or even an improvement to a existing product. It can be an explanation of a product and its purpose - what, why and how. In addition, there can be various types of designs briefs - general, referenced, specific, each one can be approached at a different angle. The clue is in the name, a design brief is a very short statement so one should always keep it brief !
Although, in some sense I already have some understanding of what a Design Brief is I wanted to explore further and find out what the Internet's general definition was :
"The design brief tells the reader what you will be doing. Make it brief, you will need to develop the final solution to the problem over many hours. It is an instruction to the Designer telling them what the product must do or be like to be successful "
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design_brief
My INITIAL understanding of the term Specifications...
A Specification is quite simply a list of what the product must do and what it must be like in order to be successful within the brief. Generally speaking it tends to be a lot more detailed in comparison to a design brief. A specification should always be used as a guideline similar to how you would abide to a design brief, I would use the specifications as a guideline. If you are not strict with the specifications then your product will not fit within the design brief or specification. To my knowledge having studied Design and Technology at school I do remember that a Spec list would include the following;
Purpose - Why it has been fabricated? . What the product is.
Form - The product's visual appearance, it's shape and its final stage. Shape and dimensions.
Function - The purpose for which the product is designed or exists. How it works. What it does.
User requirements - The requirements governing the products deliverable expressed by a user. OR
The products capabilities that the product must provide to satisfy users needs and desires.
Ergonomics - There are five aspects of ergonomics: Safety, comfort, ease of use, productivity/performance and aesthetics. Based on these aspects of ergonomics, examples are given of how products systems
benefit from redesign based on ergonomic principles. Target audience perhaps, who needs it?
Aesthetics - This concerns our senses and our responses to an object. If someone is aesthetically pleasing to you, it is 'pleasurable' and you like it. ' Aesthetics involves all of your senses - vision, hearing, touch, taste, and smell - and your emotions. How it will look
Materials and Production cost - What materials you will use and explore and the cost to devise the product during the design period.
There may be other points that you would include within your Spec list but these are the only areas I can remember. Perhaps I can explore this later?
Just like the Design Brief, I wanted to research the Internet definition for what a Specification is:
"A specification (often abbreviated spec) is an explicit set of requirements to be satisfied by a material, product, or service. Should a material, product or service fail to meet one or more of the applicable specifications, it may be referred to as being out of specification. "
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specification_%28technical_standard%29
___________________________________________________________________
What I have learnt and what I understand now ...
During our Design and Make module (SKD02) Bhav explained that a Design brief is created or originates from a CONTEXT.
I learnt that a Context is a:
- Situation/Problem
- The background aka where/how is it going to be used and the Rationale behind the design brief
My CONTEXT for the Design and Make module...
" Students have very busy lives regardless of the stereotypes; in order for any student to reach their full potential organisation, motivation and time management are some areas, which can permit you to succeed when studying at any level. "
My context now clearly informs and addresses the problem to a reader or designer.
So once we had investigated and discovered our own individual problems and created our solution or the CONTEXT, we were taught that the next step in the process is to create a Design Brief. I now have learnt that in reference to Design and Technology a Design Brief is a SOLUTION of the context which is the initial PROBLEM. Also I know now that a context is always connected to a SPECIFICATION ....
My DESIGN BRIEF for the Design and Make module...
"I am going to design and make a contemporary storage cabinet. This product will be different to the generic storage units because it will appear as a piece of contemporary art mounted on a wall yet when you open the cabinet it will reveal, a cork-board and a white board, as well as storage to place stationary and books."
My SPECIFICATIONS for the Design and Make module...
Purpose
The product will be created as a concept that is a piece of furniture that not only allows someone to store and organise their belongings but, also acts as a piece of contemporary and modern art which in turn fits within its surroundings aesthetically. When using the term ‘Art’ the important point to make is that this product is not there to inspire any individual to think different about their surroundings, nor is it to trying to attempt to influence anyone, in some respects it is merely a design that has two purposes, the first and most important is acting as a storage unit for a user, and the second is a piece of art mounted on the wall to conceal the storage unit enabling it to become a contemporary piece. The piece of art will use recycled cans of fizzy drinks and the idea of using rubbish to create beautiful things is being embraced by young artists and designers everywhere. At the moment society are becoming a lot more ecologically aware which therefore allows the piece to be rather current. . This unit will not only suit its purpose as a storage unit but will also blend the recycling ethics with a stylish perspective as a form of art.
Form
The products exterior will be visually attractive as the doors will be disguised in recycled cans giving it a shiny metallic finish which in turn enables it to stand out and catch someone’s eye within the room. The shape will be the standard form for any other storage cabinet eg. Square apart from the doors, they will be shaped as curves for aesthetic purposes. At this point in time I am yet to finalise the dimensions and measurements for the storage cabinet. However, at the moment the following measurements could quite possibly be the size of the final product. Size H45.6, W56, D15cm
Function
The storage cabinet will store folders, stationary and other academic materials that the user requires to file away. There will also be a cork board and a whiteboard. It will quite simply work as a storage cabinet on the wall, a user will open the doors and store their assets and close it the same they would with any other kind of cabinet that has two doors.
User requirements
The product will have enough space within it for a user to keep their academic belongings organised, it shall also have a reasonable sized cork board and white board for notes and any other important materials. The doors will open and close easily and the product will be able to hold the weight of their assets fixated to the wall. The product will also look attractive once closed. It shall quite easily meet any user’s requirements.
Ergonomics
With the five key aspects of ergonomics in mind; the product will need to be stable and firmly positioned when fixed to the wall. It is essential that the shelves will be able to hold the weight of the assets the user stores within it. The size and weight are vital so the product must be portable enough for a single person to move when required. The shape must avoid sharp edges and caution must be taken when creating the front because of the sharp metal edges from the cans. It will be finished to a high safe standard so that the user will not receive any cuts or splinters whilst using it. The doors will open and close easily and the shelves will again hold the weight of the user’s belongings. It will be visually attractive and in some sense fit in within its surroundings. Targeted towards the younger demographic both male and female but also could attract a family with busy lifestyles.
Aesthetics
The cabinet will look well-designed, attractive, appealing as an art piece and as a bit of furniture. It will look contemporary and modern as a cabinet and piece of art.
More Specs pointers...
The example above is quite a detailed specification list. It also does not necessarily cover all of the pointers that you may need to consider when designing a product however I now understand that specifications may vary depending on a product itself. The following aspects mentioned below are other areas which I may reflect and expand upon during the project, but I can also use these factors for future projects to come.
Environment– its effect on the environment is it sustainable. Can the parts be easily replaced?
Competition – are there any other manufactures out there that are similar to the product you are creating? What will make this product unique? Who is their targeted market and what the price of their product is.
Target product costs– The price of the product relating to the targeted markets as well as taking into consideration the competitors prices
Materials - The materials used – the volume of them. How they will work together in terms of conducting electricity or being water proof in other words the properties of the materials and their relationships with each other (their collaborations with one another) -this will always be dependent on the product.
Life in service – How long the product life’s span is, calculating factors such as the amount of use the product will get the materials and in addition where it shall be kept.
Production/Manufacturing – How the product will be produced – batched? How the product will be assembled, where it will be created. The technologies for example software that will aid the design process and production.
Maintenance- Whether the product will need parts replaced after general usage. How it can be cleaned. How products will be replaced
Testing – What the product will be tested for before being realised to the market as such.
Documentation - Does a user need instructions to use the product not only for general usage but also to prevent any damage.
Packaging – This will most likely be dependent on the product but does it need to have packaging?
__________________________________________________________________
Analysis of gained knowledge and the next step
To begin with I feel that even though I did have initial and background knowledge concerning Design Briefs and Specifications, I have now learnt even more when it comes down to approaching this area in a Design and Technology perspective. That is not to say that my initial knowledge mark (3) was too high because I feel that primarily the basic knowledge and the principles were there it was just a case of translating them differently.
Now I am much more confident in using and writing Design briefs and Specifications. Completing a bit of research into design briefs and specifications has also enabled me to expand my knowledge and I can now confidently reflect upon this when faced with future projects. I think what I must insure though is to practice and experiment with the various types of Specifications because some can be very basic and others quite detailed but I have been able to identify that this can be dependent on the product you are designing. At first, what I found difficult is actually being the person who writes the brief and comes up with the context, in my degree we followed a specific brief and context but I felt it went successful. What I found hard and perhaps unsuccessful was to write the specifications initially, I was not sure what pointers I needed to consider at first, mainly I think this was because I had never needed to write a specifications for a 3D object that I was going to actually make with my own hands. Therefore, pointers like health and safety, maintenance, and life in service are some examples that would have never needed to crossed my mind.
The most important thing that I have learnt from this exercise is that I must always reflect and refer to the Specifications when designing in order to insure I am conforming to the designers requirements. The main sources that I found useful during my development and progression within the part of the audit was predominately in taught sessions through Bhav and also learning from my fellow classmates sharing ideas and each other previous knowledge has helped me progress.
Most importantly the next step now is to refer to this in Semester 2 when we have new modules which will undoubtedly require CONTEXTS, BRIEFS, AND SPECIFICATIONS. Hopefully I can then develop this further and create better and more structured contexts, briefs and specs. I will most likely include these at a later stage.
____________________________________________________________________
Further development in this area
As we have approached semester two I have now begun a new project called Design Innovation. Compared to the previous module (Design and Make) I feel that it gives us as designers much more freedom, even though there was an option to once again create our own contexts and briefs, this time I have decided to work with a real life brief for the Church of England.
With my new found knowledge within this area of the audit, I felt as if I approached the context, brief and specifications much more confidently. Personally, I think that working with a set brief is much easier then creating your own and I think that because of this it allowed me to understand even more about the principles of the specifications, context and brief.
I learnt a very useful process on how to analyse a design brief by asking and answering a number of key questions. This method is called the 5W’s and I used this technique when I first read the Church of England brief. The 5W’s are as follows;
WHO will use the product?
(The churches congregation with the average ages of 55-74) – SO the design needs to be sturdy, safe and comfortable for the users.
WHERE will the product be used?
(In the church) SO the design needs to sympathise with the historical interiors but also consider the floors as well, as you do not want to cause any damage to it.
Why is the product needed?
The congregation is increasing and as it increases so does requirements; the church wants to use the chairs for other activities. SO the design needs to be multifunctional perhaps and also cater for all church occasions, weddings, services ect.
WHAT precisely does the product have to do?
The product first of all has to withstand regular use, be easy to maintain and either fold or be stacked neatly. SO the design has to either fold or be stacked and made from durable materials.
WHEN will the product be used?
Mostly during services and other church activities. SO the design needs to consider outdoor usage as well for church fairs or other outdoor events.
Just be completing this simple exercise I now feel even more confident in approaching briefs and knowing as a designer what is expected of me.
I also rediscovered and almost relearnt that within any project it is so crucial to keep referring to your specifications because it is easy to get lost or steer off path when designing. In fact, learnt this when I was modelling my designs; I had a tutorial with Bhav and received some great feedback however the chair I had produced was not meeting one aspect of the specifications, so I revisited the original brief, context and specifications and redesigned my product.