Study Notes
Product design
- Level:
- AS, A-Level
- Board:
- Edexcel, OCR, IB
Last updated 4 Sept 2022
Product design is about much more than style. Design goes right to the heart of a product. Good design contributes to a products usefulness as well as its look.
The traditional product design mix emphasises three elements:
- Function
- Economic manufacture
- Aesthetics
![](https://tutor2u-net.imgix.net/subjects/business/diagrams/product-design-mix.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=clip&q=80&w=800)
What do we mean by these three elements?
Function
- The way a product works.
- Does it do what it needs to do?
- Is the product reliable?
Aesthetics
- How the product appeals to the customer in terms of how it looks, feels etc.
- Based on the subjective judgement of customer
- A popular way to differentiate a product
Economic Manufacture
- Does the design allow the product to be made and sold profitably?
- How much value is added during the production process?
Common Features of Products that Successfully Emphasise Function in the Design Mix
- More predictable and stable demand
- Longer product life cycles
- Lower promotional costs
- Build reputation for quality based on reliability
- Economic manufacture through economies of scale
![](https://tutor2u-net.imgix.net/subjects/business/diagrams/product-design-mix-function-egs.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=clip&q=80&w=800)
Common Features of Products that Successfully Emphasise Aesthetics in the Design Mix
- High added value
- Demand fuelled by customer aspiration
- Potentially shorter product life cycle
- Attracts imitation = need for design protection
- Need for greater promotional support
![](https://tutor2u-net.imgix.net/subjects/business/diagrams/product-design-mix-aesthetics-egs.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=clip&q=80&w=800)
You might also like
Product Decisions
Quizzes & Activities
![](https://tutor2u-net.imgix.net/user-photos/host-jimriley.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=100&q=80&w=100)
The Role of Design in Product Development - Explained
21st September 2017