Author: K McGee

Aesthetics:
What does the product physically look like?
How do the textures, patterns and colours of the product work together?
Is it a product that looks dated now or something that looks timeless? Is there high levels of detail or is it quite minimalistic?
Why do you think this—could it be the materials, colours, shape or style?

Ergonomics:
What parts of the product interact with the human body? What anthropometric measurements would be involved? Is the product easy to use? How could it be made easier to use? Would moving components around improve it? Is it more focused on style or function?

Function:
What does the product actually do?
Could it be used just for it’s aesthetic properties?
What are the other functions; does it stack, store, hold, disguise, is it adjustable etc.
How do the components make it effective?
Is it more function or aesthetic based? How is the function affected by the aesthetics? Does this matter to the buyer?
Does the function and style justify the cost?

Manufacture:
Which processes are used? Which forming, redistribution and fabrication processes are used to create the shapes and join them together? Why were they used? How has the manufacture been influenced by the aesthetics, function and design?
What is the quality level of it? What quality checks might it have passed through? How does this effect the cost?

Materials:
Which materials? Why are those materials used? Think about properties e.g. durability or strength. How do the materials link to the manufacture? How do the materials link with the design—could the product be made in that shape/design without the use of that material? Would the aesthetic value be the same without out? Do the material choices effect the cost?

Safety:
What areas of the product have been made safe?
What safety specific quality checks do think the product would have gone through to be produced?
How has it been made ergonomically safe—thinking about anthropometric measurements?

Case Studies

Environmental Issues:
What features of it are environmentally friendly? Can it be recycled or reused? Can the product be easily repaired or components replaced to make it still function? Is it worth doing this?

Why is it Iconic:
What features of it make it iconic?
Does it transcend time or can you tell it’s from a certain period?
What about it is revolutionary? Does it lay in use of new material or the alternative use of a material? Is it in the processes used? Is it in the reduction of cost or making it more functional?