2.1 Research IdentIfY constraInts LEARNING OBJECTIVES By the end of this section you should: ✓ Know how to brainstorm a problem ✓ Understand the importance of research in the design cycle ✓ Understand what types of sources designers use when starting to design a product ✓ Understand how to analyze existing products
tHe Importance of researcH In desIgn An important part of the design process is the research a designer does to collect all the relevant information they need in order to create a new product. This research should form the foundation of any new product and is a vital part of the design development system. Research can be time-consuming and often only a fraction of the information collected is actually used in the final design process. Brainstorming is a useful starting point and it is helpful to get some initial thoughts down on paper. Market research is often carried out by companies who invest a great deal of money and time in discovering exactly what it is that people want, and designers use this to help them develop new products that meet the needs of their customers.
BraInstormIng Designers use brainstorming to help them work out what they need to do in order to begin a project. The designer usually does this after the client has given them a design brief. Below is an example of some brainstorming a designer has done after they have been given a design brief for a DVD storage unit. This diagram shows the many different areas the designer needs to investigate before they can start designing their product.
∆ Initial handwritten brainstorm
TOP TIP
order to create a new product, from the design brief, all the way through to the evaluation of the final product noting down all possible areas that need to be investigated at the start of a project
market research: collecting and studying information
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2.1 ReseaRch
brainstorming: generating ideas and suggestions, and
208981 CIE Design and Technology.indd 4-5
about what people want, need and buy
When you’re brainstorming, write down every idea that you have, even if you think it is silly or unrealistic. This is your opportunity to be creative and sometimes the best ideas appear when you don’t limit yourself! Remember that you need to include practical elements in your brainstorming so that you can make your ideas a reality and fulfill the brief you have been given. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the brief. You need to explore all possibilities at the start in order to work out what you need to do.
2.1 ReseaRch
design process: every stage that needs to happen in
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KEY tERMS
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