PRODUCT ANALYSIS AND PRODUCT EVALUATION
WHAT IS PRODUCT ANALYSIS? TO ANALYSE A PRODUCT IS TO STUDY IT IN SMALLER, MORE DETAILED PARTS.
FOR EXAMPLE - YOU NEED TO DESCRIBE DESIGN : USES. SHAPES. COLOUR. DECORATION
FOR EXAMPLE - YOU NEED TO DESCRIBE MATERIALS: CONSTRUCTION OF FABRICS USED. FIBRE CONTENT. COMPONENTS. SPECIAL FINISHES.
FOR EXAMPLE - YOU NEED TO DESCRIBE CONSTRUCTION: NUMBER OF PATTERN PIECES. THE ORDER IN WHICH PATTERN PIECES AND COMPONENTS ARE PUT TOGETHER.
WHAT IS PRODUCT EVALUATION? PRODUCT EVALUATION INVOLVES TESTING THE PRODUCT IN TERMS OF EFFECTIVENESS.
FOR EXAMPLE : - YOU NEED TO TEST HOW WELL IT PERFORMS. WHERE IT COULD BE IMPROVED. THE PRODUCTS STRENGTHS. THE PRODUCTS WEAKNESSES.
FACT v OPINION. PERFORMANCE TESTS WILL BE BASED ON FACT- e.g. How many times was the product washed before the fabric shrank or colours ran? OTHER TESTS WILL BE A MATTER OF OPINION- e.g. Are the colours suitable for the type of customer?
MAKING CRITICAL JUDGEMENTS EVALUATING A PRODUCT IS NOT THE SAME AS DESCRIBING IT!
FOR EXAMPLE TO SAY THAT “THIS SKI JACKET IS MADE FROM WHITE NYLON” WOULD BE A DESCRIPTION. TO SAY THAT “THIS SKI JACKET HAS A TWO LAYER COATED SHELL FOR WATER PROTECTION” WOULD BE A DESCRIPTION WITH AN EXPLANATION WHY.
FOR EXAMPLE TO SAY THAT “THIS SKI JACKET IS MADE FROM STORMLIGHT 3.0-E BALLISTIC NYLON FABRIC (10,000MM 5,000G) WITH A TWO LAYER COATED SHELL FOR SUCCESSFULL WATER/SNOW PROTECTION” WOULD BE AN EVALUATION OF THE DESIGN SUCCESS IN FUNCTION.
DESIGN PRINCIPLES FORM- ITS THREE DIMENTIONAL SHAPE. SIZE- THE DIMENTIONS OF VARIOUS PARTS. FUNCTION- WHAT SHOULLD IT DO, AND HOW SUCCESSFUL IS IT. MATERIALS- WHAT IS IT MADE FROM. COMPONENTS- SUITABILITY OF PARTS USED. COLOUR AND TEXTURE- WHAT IT LOOKS AND FEELS LIKE. DECORATION- ADDED PATTERNS OR OTHER NON ESSENTIAL PARTS. AESTHETIC APPEAL- IS IT PLEASING TO THE EYE. COST- SELLING PRICE AND MARKET POSITION. MANUFACTURE- HOW IT HAS BEEN MADE, QUALITY AND QUANTITIES.
WHAT IS YOUR PRODUCT USED FOR?
? EXPLAIN TWO OF THE DESIGN FEATURES OF THE PRODUCT AND WHY THEY MIGHT APPEAL TO THE USER?
? WHAT IS THE PRODUCT MADE FROM AND WHY IS THIS PARTICULAR FABRIC SUITABLE FOR THE PRODUCT?
? DESCRIBE THE FASTENING THAT THE DESIGNER HAS USED AND DISCUSS THE ADVANTAGES OF USING THIS AS OPPOSED TO A DIFFERENT TYPE?
? IDENTIFY ANOTHER FEATURE OR COMPONENT OF THE PRODUCT AND SUGGEST AN ALTERNATIVE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN USED.
? DOES THE PRODUCT HAVE A VISIBLE LOGO? IS IT IN A GOOD LOCATION, AND IF SO WHY? IF YOUR PRODUCT DOES NOT HAVE A VISIBLE LOGO, WHERE WOULD YOU PUT ONE IF YOU WERE THE DESIGNER?