Assignment Context:

You are being asked to design a product and prepare a design specification. You will be working in pairs to complete this assignment where each one in turn will take the role of the customer to specify customer requirements which will be used by the other to design the product. It is important that each customer come up with a set of requirements that would result in a unique design.

The design specification must consider customer requirements in terms of aesthetics, function, performance, cost, production parameters and lead to a design report. Each person need to come up with a unique set of requirements in order for the designs to be different. Suggested products for the design are;

• Bottle to contain drinks
• Simple Light fitting
• Bottle opener
• Keyring torch
• Kettle
• Pizza cutter
• Electro mechanical door bell
• A suitable product agreed with the tutor

Care must be taken to consider the implications of specification parameters and resource requirements as well as the level of risk associated when each significant parameters is established.

Task 1: Establish customer requirements

Using one or more of the market research methodologies, identify a clear set of customer requirements for your chosen product. exs of market research methodologies are:

• problemnaires
• Interviews
• Focus group

Also describe why you have chosen the market research method you used instead of others.

Task 2: Present the major design parameters

Using your customer requirements, produce a list of design parameters for your product. Then use a suitable method to identify the major design parameters. Present these in a report with evidence of your work, with relative importance ranking. Also describe the interaction between them in the report.

Task 3: Obtain design information from appropriate sources and prepare a design specification

Considering your design parameters in task 2, draw up a design specification for your product.

a) Find suitable information from three different sources on the following topics.

• Performance
• Environment (during manufacture, storage and use)
• Target product cost
• Competition
• Quantity and manufacture
• Materials
• Quality
• Standards
• Patents
• Market and company constraints    
• Packaging and shipping
• Aesthetics and ergonomics

b) Using the information you have found prepare a design specification to present to your customer.

Task 4: Demonstrate that the design specification meets requirements

Evaluate how your specification matches all aspects of the customer requirements and design parameters, using a suitable method. Present your evaluation as a report.

Task 5: Produce an analysis of possible design solutions

Generate a range of possible design solutions which adequately cover the customer requirements. There should be at least four distinct design solutions.Analyse thedesign solutions for their suitability. Design solutions should be presented as clear sketches with annotations. The analysis should be presented as a brief report.

Task 6: Produce and evaluate conceptual designs

Select two top ranking design solutions further study and produce conceptual designs for each one. Evaluate each of these designs against the customer requirements. Provide suitable evidence for the evaluation. Also include detailed sketches for the conceptual designs.

Task 7: Select the optimum design solution

Using your evaluation and any other consideration select the optimum design solution. Evaluation criteria should include but not limited to cost, future development potential and value engineering concepts. Present your result in a report and a 5 minute presentation.

Task 8: Carry out a compliance check

Carry out a compliance check on your chosen solution. Present your results in a report.

Task 9: Produce a final design report

Produce a final design report for your customer describeing the rationale behind the design. Also include all relevant diagrams, charts, sketches etc.