Product Design Year 7 - Developing Ideas


Overview

Within the developing ideas section of the project you will begin to consider how existing products will help your design and who you might design the clock for.

You will complete a product analysis. This will get you looking at existing clocks and consider why they have been made the way they have. You can then use some of these observations to influence your own designs.

We will also create a detailed mind map that will help you to identify the user who will receive the clock when you have completed it.

After you have completed the mind map you will produce a detailed mood board as home study. This will help you to identify the key interests of your chosen user and get you thinking about possible design ideas.

Product Analysis

Activities

Activity 1: Product Analysis

Use the worksheets provided to carry out a Product Analysis on a variety of Clocks intended for different USERS. This will help you to understand how different clocks are made and why they are made the way they are. You will be working in groups and will have 2 minutes to analyse each clock and record your findings.

How could this information help with your own design?

Consider

Form, Function, User, Cost, Materials and Sustainability.

Activity 2: Mind Map

Complete a mind map that highlights the key possible users who may end up with your clock at the end of the project. This will help you to think about what design you might want on the front.

Consider

Who might it be and what are their main interests?


Extension

Product Analysis

Suggest how you think one of the clocks you looked at could be adapted to suit a different user group.

Mind Map

Include some sketches that will help to explain the interests of your various users. Use colour to help them stand out from the page.

Home Study 1: Visual Moodboard

Collect images (these could be off the internet, photographs, magazine cut outs or drawings) that help to show the interests of the USER you have chosen. You should also use text to help explain your choices. Think about how you could make your presentation interesting and unique.

Consider

Music, Hobbies, Colours, TV, Films, Animals etc.

Your home study should have:

  • A border. This will make your work look neater and more finished.
  • A title. Your title should be something like 'My Chosen User'.