Innovation
What is an innovation?
significantly improved product, system, or environment that meets a need or creates value
What is ergonomics?
Designing products, systems or environments to suit human physical and psychological characteristics to improve comfort, safety and efficiency.
What is planned obsolescence?
Designing a product with a deliberately limited useful or desirable lifespan to encourage its replacement.
What is a Gantt chart used for?
To visually plan and monitor activities/tasks against time.
What is an emerging technology?
A developing or recently introduced technology that has the potential to significantly influence products, systems, environments, industries or society.
What is the difference between an invention and an innovation?
An invention is the creation of something new, while innovation involves successfully developing, improving or applying an idea so that it provides value or meets a need.
Name FOUR factors that designers may need to consider when developing a design.
Give TWO ways design can negatively affect the environment.
Examples include resource depletion, pollution, landfill, excessive energy consumption, emissions, electronic waste or habitat destruction.
What are the three major resources commonly managed during a design project?
Time, finance and resources/materials.
Identify THREE examples of emerging technologies relevant to designers.
Identify THREE factors that can influence the success of an innovation.
Explain the difference between function and aesthetics.
Function relates to how effectively the design performs its intended purpose, while aesthetics relates to its visual and sensory qualities.
What is life-cycle analysis?
Evaluating the environmental impacts of a product throughout its life, including raw material extraction, production, transportation, use and disposal/end-of-life.
Explain why designers establish criteria to evaluate success.
They provide measurable standards against which the final design can be evaluated to determine how effectively it satisfies the identified need and design requirements.
Explain ONE advantage of 3D printing for designers.
For example, it allows designers to rapidly produce prototypes, test ideas and modify designs without needing expensive traditional tooling.
How can timing influence the success or failure of an innovation?
An innovation introduced when consumers are ready for it and supporting technologies/infrastructure exist is more likely to succeed.
Explain how WHS and ergonomics could influence the design of a cordless power drill.
Handle shape, grip, weight distribution, trigger location, vibration, guarding, user fatigue, battery position and controls. These considerations reduce injury risk while improving comfort and usability.
Explain how changing social trends can influence design.
Changes in consumer lifestyles, demographics, values and expectations create new needs and alter demand. Designers respond by modifying products, systems and environments.
Example: Greater environmental awareness has increased demand for reusable, repairable and lower-impact products.
A student's prototype fails during testing. Explain why this does not necessarily mean the project has failed.
Testing identifies weaknesses and generates information that can be used to modify and improve the design. Failed experimentation can therefore contribute to successful design development.
Explain how an emerging technology can change the work of a designer.
Technologies can alter how designers research, communicate, model, prototype, test, manufacture and collaborate.
For example, CAD and additive manufacturing allow designers to rapidly move between digital modelling, physical prototyping, testing and redesign.
Assess the importance of entrepreneurial activity in the success of innovation.
Entrepreneurs recognising opportunities, accepting risk, obtaining finance/resources, marketing innovations and turning ideas into commercially viable solutions. Other factors such as timing, technology and market acceptance should also be considered.
A company is developing a new electric bicycle for commuters. Analyse how THREE factors affecting design could influence its development.
For example:
Ergonomics → adjustable seat/handlebars → accommodates different users.
Environment → recyclable materials/efficient battery → reduces environmental impact.
Cost → material/component choices → keeps the bicycle affordable.
Simply listing factors does not earn full points.
Assess the impact that planned obsolescence can have on society and the environment.
Society: increased consumption, replacement costs, convenience, technological advancement.
Environment: increased resource extraction, manufacturing, energy use, e-waste and landfill.
Evaluate the importance of effective project management in achieving a successful design solution.
Discuss managing time, finances and resources; sequencing activities; monitoring progress; responding to problems; maintaining documentation; and modifying plans.
Assess the impact of artificial intelligence on designers and society.
Designers: faster ideation, automation, optimisation, analysis and visualisation, but possible skill changes, job displacement and questions around originality/IP.
Society: increased efficiency, accessibility and new products/services, but concerns around employment, privacy, bias, intellectual property and ethical use.
Key requirement: Finish with an overall judgement.