Design and Technology Technical principles Products and prototypes

Design and Technology Technical principles Products and prototypes

By the end of this unit you should have developed a knowledge and understanding of: • the different between products, projects and prototypes • the difference between functional and non-functional prototypes • what a proof of concept prototype is • how large scale models can be used in place of working prototypes • how CAD can be used to prototype concept models Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes Learning outcomes

We are all guilty of using these interchangeable words to describe what will now be referred to as Non Examination Assessment (NEA) but how many of the ‘outcomes’ you produce are really projects or products? • What is a project or a product? • What is a prototype? Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes Product or prototype?

Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes This is a project

Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes This is a project

‘an individual or collaborative enterprise that is carefully planned to achieve a particular aim’ Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes What is a project?

Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes This is a product

Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes This is a product

‘an article or substance that is manufactured or refined for sale’ Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes What is a product?

Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes This is a bespoke item

Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes Or a one-off

Typically a ‘one off’’ approach is taken in D&T in order for students to produce something we often refer to as a finished ‘product’ It is a bespoke and unique item which usually involves manual labour and craftsmanship. Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes What is a one-off?

Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes These are prototypes

Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes This is also a prototype

‘a first or preliminary version of a device or vehicle from which other forms are developed’ Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes What is a prototype?

Products and prototypes Which one best reflects what you currently make in Design and Technology at the moment? Specialist technical principles

Products and prototypes Which of the following are products, projects or prototypes? Specialist technical principles

2 1 6 4 7 5 9 10 Specialist technical principles 11 8 Products and prototypes 3

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. Prototype Prototype Prototype Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes Product or prototype?

Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes The following is an example of a ‘functional’ prototype; neither production ready nor ‘road worthy’. It can be used to evaluate the concept with a user and to demonstrate to a group for feedback. It may look like a finished ‘product’ but wouldn’t last long at all in everyday use. However, it is good enough for initial testing and evaluation.

Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes Functional prototype

Festival kit Inspired by candidates experience of camping at festivals she designed a backpack that incorporated a pillow with built in stereo speakers and push button night lights on the exterior with a roll out sleep mat. Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes Functional prototype

In a true iterative process, testing of the first prototypes highlighted the need for a modular interlocking system and the need for some basic furniture. Taking all these different elements to a festival would be impractical but the candidate managed to get them all into one simple device. Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes Functional prototype

Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes Functional prototype

Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes The following is an example of ‘working’ prototype that represent how the finished article would look and be constructed but without the considerations of batch or mass production. It can be tested for further development but equally it could be used as it is. It should last a reasonable time in everyday use.

Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes Working prototype 1

Flat pack easel for primary schools Designed for small classrooms, this easel folds flat for storage and transforms from double easel into a desk with storage slots for paint pots etc. Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes Working prototype 1

Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes The following example is a ‘non working’ prototype; it represents how the finished article might look or function with some basic mechanical operation but without the considerations of mass production. It can be tested for ergonomics and to evaluate the visual concept but it may not be fully functional or represent the final intended finish.

Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes Non-working prototype 1

Paperless medical unit for hospitals Inspired by a news article regarding the rise in medical mistakes due to poor writing on shared patient notes. The candidate researched mobile devices for data sharing and docking and originally wanted to design a wearable device. However, he developed the idea of a tablet that could be carried by all staff and a dock where notes and data could be stored. Following an in depth evaluation by medical staff, he added a USB and suggested a range of USB connected monitoring equipment such as blood pressure, heart rate etc. During the course of the project the NHS announced plans to move to a paperless system within 2 years. Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes Non-working prototype 1

Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes Non-working prototype 1

Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes Non-working prototype 1

Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes The following example is a ‘proof of concept’ prototype. Without the means to make a CNC produce piece full size, full size elements were made so they could be tested and evaluated. A scale version was made to show the finished product would look and function if made accurately on a CNC router or laser cutter.

Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes Proof of concept

‘Five a Day’ educational toy Inspired by the introduction of the ‘five a day’ initiative and some personal research that highlighted a worrying lack of knowledge regarding fruit and vegetables by the young children interviewed. Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes Proof of concept

The candidate devised four different games/activities that interlocked in a portable storage unit. Given the limitations of the CNC router and the time limits of the project, she made a half size CAM made project and the rack as well as a full size toy for testing. With these components she was able to ‘prove’ the concept worked. Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes Proof of concept

Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes Some products simply cannot be realised due to their size and a scale model will be made instead. In the case of architectural models, they are usually 1: 50 so there is a limited amount of detail that can seen. To help visualise the concept, computer models with sectional/floor reveals and animations can be used.

Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes Scale model

Nice simple context but a great architectural model made from foam board, mounting board and some wood. Sketch. Up animations helped to convey the concept to the client along with a detailed scale model. Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes Scale model

This is just a selection or projects years where candidates have developed their own client or market led design briefs and produced functional, proof of concept, working or nonworking prototypes or scale models. Despite not being finished ‘products’ the outcomes were successful in addressing the needs of the design brief and achieved high marks. Even when the outcome was a non-working prototype, the higher ‘level of demand’ ensured a successful grade. Each project received an A grade and many of these achieved 100% for the coursework. Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes Summary of the unit

Prototypes are simply ‘trial runs’ for products to see how they can be improved or made more efficiently/cost effectively. There is no need to make a ‘finished product’; it depends on the nature of the task and level of demand. It doesn’t mean the outcome can’t be ‘finished’ and attractive but there is no requirement for it to be. Prototypes are an ideal way of reinforcing iterative design as they suggest modifications and further ‘iterations’. Along with models, these should satisfy the requirements of the GCSE and A Level Specialist technical principles Products and prototypes Summary of the unit