Free HSC Design and Technology Flashcard Review

Design is the purposeful application of a process to generate a product, system or environment that satisfies an identified need or opportunity. It involves making creative decisions about function, form and materials to meet user requirements.

Function, aesthetics, ergonomics, safety, quality, cost, durability, obsolescence and the appropriateness of materials. Designers weigh these factors against each other for the specific user and context.

Function is how well the product does the job it was designed to do — whether it meets the practical purpose and performs reliably for the user. It is often the highest-priority factor in a working product.

Ergonomics is designing products, systems and environments to fit the people who use them — matching size, shape, reach, comfort and ease of use to human physical and cognitive characteristics to reduce strain and error.

Aesthetics concerns how a product looks and appeals to the senses (form, colour, texture, style), while function concerns how well it performs its intended task. Designers often balance the two, e.g. a chair must look good and be comfortable to sit in.

Obsolescence is a product becoming outdated or no longer usable. Types include technological obsolescence (newer technology supersedes it), planned obsolescence (designed to fail or date) and style/aesthetic obsolescence (fashion changes).

Products for children prioritise safety, durability and being non-toxic above other factors — they must withstand rough use and contain no choking hazards or harmful materials, even if this raises cost or limits aesthetic choices.

Needs are the essential requirements a product must satisfy; wants are desirable but non-essential features; values are the beliefs and priorities (e.g. sustainability, status) that shape what a user considers important in a product.

An invention is a wholly new device or idea, while innovation is the successful application or improvement of an idea, often bringing something to market or making an existing product significantly better. Innovation can be incremental or radical.

Lateral or divergent thinking generates many varied, non-obvious ideas by approaching a problem from new angles rather than following one logical path. It expands the range of possible solutions during idea generation.

Creativity, problem-solving ability, technical and material knowledge, communication and visualisation skills, adaptability, perseverance, and the ability to research, plan and make informed decisions under constraints.

Collaboration draws on different expertise, skills and perspectives, allowing problems to be solved more effectively, ideas to be refined through feedback, and specialist input (e.g. engineering, marketing) to be applied where needed.

A clear written statement that identifies the need or opportunity, defines the purpose and scope of the project, the intended user and key requirements. It guides and frames all subsequent design decisions.

Action plans, timelines and Gantt charts. These break the project into tasks, allocate time to each, sequence dependencies and let the designer monitor progress against deadlines.

Estimating and tracking costs, setting a budget, allocating resources efficiently and managing finances across the life of the project so it can be completed within available funds.

A risk assessment identifies potential hazards in a task, evaluates the likelihood and severity of harm, and determines control measures to eliminate or reduce the risk before work begins.

Eliminate the hazard; if not possible substitute, isolate or use engineering controls; then apply administrative controls (procedures, training); and lastly use personal protective equipment (PPE) as the least effective control.

It documents the statement of intent, planning, time and financial management, resource organisation and decision-making, providing evidence of how the project was managed from conception through to realisation.

Primary research is data the designer collects first-hand (surveys, interviews, experiments, observation). Secondary research uses existing information gathered by others (books, websites, reports, existing product analysis).

Prototypes and models bring ideas to life so the designer can test functionality, check proportions and ergonomics, identify problems and gather feedback before committing to the final, finished product.