The Designer in Society

1. The Designer in Society

2. Human Achievement • We are remarkably successful in harnessing natural resources to meet our needs • Use our intellectual skills • Adapt the materials we have found • potential for healthier, more comfortable and fulfilling life

3. Human Achievement • Result of success – population growth • 1800: approx. 11 million • 1991: approx. 56 million • Due to improvement in health care • More people natural resources reduced detrimental effects Dilemma: Technology leads a double life, it can fulfill exorbitant (grand) intentions of it’s practitioners (designers, engineers) but simultaneously produce unintended items.

4. Human Achievement • Medical technologies reduce death rate but contribute to population growth • Food production is more efficient through genetic/chemical technology but at the cost of damage to eco-systems Does technology improve our quality of life?

5. Technology & Designing • Technology is a concept with a broad range of meanings • Can refer to how society produces goods and services e.g. high tech/low tech • Alternative and intermediate technology • alternative: different point of view, better use of natural resources (www.cat.org.uk) • international organisation, mission to build technical skills in developing countries to improve future generations

6. Technology & Designing • Some products can challenge our conceptions of the way things should be e.g. plastic coffee cups pens (www.remarkable.com) • Technology also means ‘applied science’ • Many advances only due to scientific developments • Many cases, scientific ideas underpin designing, but reverse is true, products developed before science is understood • Sometimes a new scientific idea can have consequences in many different fields

7. Technology & Designing • E.g. Chaos Theory (1970) to explain unexpected mathematical results – applied in 1994 with the tangling of clothes in a drier! Can design proceed without science? • Yes – decisions are based on judgement and experience. For some problems neither theory or experience can exist >intuitive approach • Design ‘by eye’ or ‘feel’ • Seek the advice/use the knowledge of others • Judgement and knowledge may often be the way forward but don’t make wild guesses

8. Environmental Issues • Concerns are now at an International Level • Population growth  expectations for high standard • Many organisations are working towards ‘sustainable development’ – UN Earth Summit 1992 (Rio) • 1990 US represented 5% of world’s population US used 25% of its energy US responsible for 22% of all CO2 emissions • 1990 India represented 16% of world’s population India used 3& of its energy India responsible for 3% of all CO2 emissions • Covers: energy, air & soil pollution, ecology, transport and conservation

9. Economic Issues • Total cost is made up of: fixed & variable costs • Fixed – remains the same no matter how many items are produced or consumed e.g. overheads • Variable – directly proportional to number sold e.g. materials • Average cost decreases as quantity increases •  economy of sale • Many products have a small proportional variable cost to the total e.g. airfix kits • One-off, batch & mass production used to increase economy and customer satisfaction • The design, materials, method and cost can be affected by the number to be produced • Drive for greater efficiency has led to development of TQM, JIT & BPB

10. Consumer Issues • Consider several different factors, often experience or ‘feeling’ • Suitability, affordability, maintenance, safety, reliability, life span, attractiveness, fashion • Majority of cases  many competing models • Consumers protected by law • Legal requirements for products to be ‘fit for use’

11. Design Issues • New products or systems are derived from • Demand Pull • Technology Push • Designer’s have a major role in both cases • Different time scales & constraints • Many decisions to be made – some having limited choice • Technical & Functional considerations but also human factors • Designs are not permanent – human needs change • Designers must also consider resources & requirements

12. Product Analysis & Life Cycles • Need to see new products in relation to predecessors • Leads to a deeper understanding of the product & the requirements • Application of styling/technology to different products • Interchange of Ideas • Comparisons made in different ways e.g. cost/capacity/ weight • Styles, shapes, trends often come back around • Resurgence

13. Product Analysis & Life Cycles • Life Cycle: • Introduction – consumers learn about product, 2/3 of products will be accepted. • Growth – sales increase, dynamic phase, scope for experimentation (high demand) e.g. form, colour • Maturity – rapid expansion ends, length dependent upon how product is influenced by fashion/trend • Decline – superseded by other products, a companies long term future depends upon profit during Growth/Maturity.

14. Product Analysis & Life Cycles Records Audio Tapes Video Tapes Compact Discs

15. Role of the Designer • 4 parties involved in product development • client • designer • maker • user • The designer must transform a brief to a detailed specific product proposal to allow it to be made • Self-sufficiency – pre-industrial society, only 1 person • Designer-maker – commissioned work • Specialist designers – industrial, requires good communication between specialists • Mass production – design consultancy or company staff, requires accurate communication between 4 roles

16. ‘Total’ Design • Commercial success depends partly upon ‘price’ factors & partly upon ‘non-price’ factors • Production cost/selling price • Quality/features • Successful products are not just the ‘cheapest’ • Product superiority & uniqueness account for 50% • Cost-conscious but compromising • A designer must pay attention to every element – not allow greater emphasis to a single element