Why do Products Evolve?
Political Changes
For example; Art Nouveau, with it’s natural form and curling lines was created as a backlash to the industrial revolution, with it’s uniform, straight lines, mass produced products.
Social Changes
Products change because of the way we use them—think about mobile phones, they have gone from being a source of communication to being a must have gadget/accessory—many people wouldn’t dream of leaving their homes without a phone. It has become one device when less than twenty years ago to carry that much information would have been 15 different products. Socially we have conformed to believe that our phones are essential possessions—which makes the market for them huge, with the vast majority of people living in the UK above 9 years old owning at least one mobile phone.
For example; Art Nouveau, with it’s natural form and curling lines was created as a backlash to the industrial revolution, with it’s uniform, straight lines, mass produced products.
Social Changes
Products change because of the way we use them—think about mobile phones, they have gone from being a source of communication to being a must have gadget/accessory—many people wouldn’t dream of leaving their homes without a phone. It has become one device when less than twenty years ago to carry that much information would have been 15 different products. Socially we have conformed to believe that our phones are essential possessions—which makes the market for them huge, with the vast majority of people living in the UK above 9 years old owning at least one mobile phone.
Environmental Changes
People are more conscious of their environmental impact today and as a result of Market Pull many new products have been created (e.g. Hybrid Cars) and existing products modified (e.g. biodegradable plastic bags—these degrade in around 5 years time and are reducing land fill).
Cultural Changes
Some products are aimed at different cultures and countries. A product acceptable in one culture may be looked up one as offensive or less desirable in another. The use of colours and colour schemes are a good example of this.
Availability of New Materials
The development of Carbon Fibre had a huge impact on the transport and automotive sector, with its very high strength to weight ratio it made it perfect for anything that needed to travel at high speeds but also be strong enough to not only move at those speeds without being crushed by the pressure but to withstand any sudden impacts.
Development of New Technology & Processes
The production method used to create a product (e.g. mass , batch etc) can change the design. For example a mass produced item will have a much lower cost per unit that a one off produced—if you can modify a design to still function the same but be less complex to manufacture you can reduce those costs.
Similarly using CAM can reduce costs too as more products can be created in the same time.
People are more conscious of their environmental impact today and as a result of Market Pull many new products have been created (e.g. Hybrid Cars) and existing products modified (e.g. biodegradable plastic bags—these degrade in around 5 years time and are reducing land fill).
Cultural Changes
Some products are aimed at different cultures and countries. A product acceptable in one culture may be looked up one as offensive or less desirable in another. The use of colours and colour schemes are a good example of this.
Availability of New Materials
The development of Carbon Fibre had a huge impact on the transport and automotive sector, with its very high strength to weight ratio it made it perfect for anything that needed to travel at high speeds but also be strong enough to not only move at those speeds without being crushed by the pressure but to withstand any sudden impacts.
Development of New Technology & Processes
The production method used to create a product (e.g. mass , batch etc) can change the design. For example a mass produced item will have a much lower cost per unit that a one off produced—if you can modify a design to still function the same but be less complex to manufacture you can reduce those costs.
Similarly using CAM can reduce costs too as more products can be created in the same time.
Continuous Improvement
This is an ongoing effort to improve products or processes.
This pushes designers and manufactures to make their products better for users and to compete with the competition which can make the products evolve. There are 4 Steps: Plan: Identify an opportunity and plan for change. Do: Implement the change on a small scale. Check: Use data to analyze the results of the change and determine whether it made a difference. Act: If the change was successful, implement it on a wider scale and continuously assess your results. If the change did not work, begin the cycle again. |
Impact of Evolution: Flat Pack Furniture
Products which are packaged flat to use up less space and then assembled when unpacked, also known as knock-down (KND) furniture or flat pack furniture is a form of furniture that is purchased in multiple pieces and requires assembly.
This form of furniture generally arrives in a box and contains instructions for the buyer to follow in order to assemble it after purchase. Flat pack furniture designed and packaged to fit in the boot of car so easy to take home.
This form of furniture generally arrives in a box and contains instructions for the buyer to follow in order to assemble it after purchase. Flat pack furniture designed and packaged to fit in the boot of car so easy to take home.
Advantages to the User |
Advantages to the Manufacturer |
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Why is it Becoming so Popular?
1. Mass produced flat pack furniture which changes in season. E.g. IKEA produce a seasonal catalogue changing colourways and introducing new up to date products which encourages consumers to buy newer versions and update their homes.
2. As mass distributed catalogue direct to homes and large warehouse retail stores situated conveniently at motorway junctions, IKEA is accessible to everyone.
3. Flatpack furniture designed and packaged to fit in the boot of car so easy to take home.
4. The majority of people no longer buy expensive pieces of furniture to hand down through families but instead buy and assemble cheaper mass produced pieces which are replaced when they wear out or go out of fashion. Design development: shapes, modular, minimalism as a response to manufacturing systems.
5. Lower retail cost due to manufacturing methods.
2. As mass distributed catalogue direct to homes and large warehouse retail stores situated conveniently at motorway junctions, IKEA is accessible to everyone.
3. Flatpack furniture designed and packaged to fit in the boot of car so easy to take home.
4. The majority of people no longer buy expensive pieces of furniture to hand down through families but instead buy and assemble cheaper mass produced pieces which are replaced when they wear out or go out of fashion. Design development: shapes, modular, minimalism as a response to manufacturing systems.
5. Lower retail cost due to manufacturing methods.
What is the Environmental Impact?
1. More resources consumed as furniture is ‘throw away’ – wears out relatively quickly in comparison with traditional furniture favoured by previous generations.
2. Ends up in landfill as plastics and laminated boards cannot be recycled or reused for other products. 3. Packaging for products – bespoke or handmade furniture is not packaged in the same way as flat pack. 4. Distribution involves pollution and consumption of fuel to warehouse and from warehouse to home whereas people often purchased more locally made products or furniture was handed down through generations and therefore was more sustainable. |