Evaluating and testing products often mean working to strict criteria and finding answers to a broad range of questions. One of the most important is ‘How well does the product do its job?’ We need to know how fit the product is for the purpose for which it was designed. Everyday objects can be frustrating if they do not work how we expect them to. Is this because we cannot use them properly, because they do not work well or because we are using them for something they were not designed for?

Example A Travel Iron is small, compact and lightweight, easy to take with you in a suitcase etc. however, its performance is not as efficient as a top-of-the- range household Iron and will not cope with Ironing a full basket of normal clothing. It is mainly used for ironing light t-shirts, shorts etc. infrequently while on holiday or traveling. A household iron and a travel iron carry out similar functions but are designed to be used in different situations and conditions. The expectations for both are quite different. Both do their own jobs well but neither could fulfill all the tasks and desired functions of the other. This is know as Fitness for Purpose.

Fitness for Purpose When considering Fitness for Purpose, the designer should be clear about what the product must do, where its likely to be used and who will be using it. Camping is a popular activity which can require people to carry equipment over long distances. A Camping Stove is an essential item when outdoors for a prolonged period of time. The specification would be to include lightweight materials, make it as small as possible with a strong emphasis on safety. There are many interesting designs of camping stoves on the market today. Campers do not expect the same level of performance from the camping stove as a kitchen cooker. The stove is Fit for its Purpose and should not be compared to the family kitchen cooker. Neither product could do the other products job. All the essential and desirable features of the product should established at the start of the design and then checked at the end.

Cont… Using advanced technology to design sports equipment can lead to vast improvements in performance. Bikes can be designed with a one piece frame made from carbon fibre with an epoxy resin matrix, pedals and handlebars made from titanium, a one piece fork made from carbon fibre to hold the front wheel etc. A bike like this is designed for racing and would not be appropriate for any other purpose.

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