gcse graphic products portfolio guidelines

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Design BriefDesign Brief

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Provide a written description to say why there is a need for a particular type of product. In several paragraphs you could describe the people who might need the product, what you see as a typical situation, why people would want to buy the product, what some of the problems might be etc..

Write a design brief for the product which gives a summary view of what this design project is all about.

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Research PlanResearch Plan

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Show at least six things you could research to help you design, and where you will look for your information. This must include:

the market for your product (interview/survey)

existing products (shops/catalogues/brochures/observation/internet)

the situation (how/where the product will be used)

any other relevant information you can think of.

Places to look for information include the internet, libraries (school/local/city), encyclopaedia, CD-ROM, shops, catalogues, manufacturers, interview/survey with client/customer/expert, existing products, observation, magazines, classroom information, textbook, teachers, parents etc..

Analyse every piece of research you find; show how it is relevant to you in your design.

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Research: marketResearch: market

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Use an interview with a client or a questionnaire to show that there is a market for your product, and what the customers want. If you use a questionnaire then use Excel to present a few charts and graphs of results.

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Research: marketResearch: market

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Research: existing productsResearch: existing products

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Use pictures of existing products and analyse to show how the product fits the function. Look at materials, construction, function, value, colour, aesthetics, ergonomics, etc. If you can, take one apart to show how it is made. Use diagrams and photographs.

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Research: existing productsResearch: existing products

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Research: existing productsResearch: existing products

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Research: situationResearch: situation

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Show how, where, when, by whom etc. the product will be used.

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ResearchResearch

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Add any extra relevant research you can think of.

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SpecificationSpecification10

Write a specification as a list of bullet points of “design criteria” – things your product should do. Most criteria should come from your analysis of research. For example:

•Must conform to British Standards on safety

•Must be brightly coloured

•Must emit a noise louder than 100 decibels

•Must be no larger than 200 x 100 x 50 mm

•Must cost less than £5 to make

•Etc.

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Design ideasDesign ideas

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Sketch your design ideas. Make them clear, but don’t worry too much about neatness; this folder is to show evidence of your thoughts. Help your reader by adding notes, labels, using colour, shade, short explanations etc.. Focus on technical detail if appropriate.

For each evaluate the good and bad points.

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Design ideasDesign ideas

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Design ideasDesign ideas

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Choice of idea & reasonsChoice of idea & reasons

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Describe carefully why you have chosen your final idea. Say why you think it is the best idea to develop. You might want to include details from other design ideas you have had.

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Design developmentDesign development

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Over the next few pages develop the detail of you final design. You may well need to model your design; modelling can include card modelling, computer simulation, scale drawing, CAD, circuit board testing, use of kits etc.. You must record your testing; use drawings, photographs, printouts, diagrams etc..

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Design developmentDesign development

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Design development: final drawingDesign development: final drawing

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This page(s) should show exactly what you plan to make. There should be enough detail here to enable any competent person to make your design for you.

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Design development: detailDesign development: detail

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Materials & componentsMaterials & components

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Use this page to list the materials and components you will need to start manufacture.

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Plan of manufacturePlan of manufacture

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Give a step by step plan for manufacture using flowcharts. Make sure you break the process down into individual steps. Show estimates of time taken for each stage, health and safety considerations, where quality control takes place.

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Quantity manufacture: quality controlsQuantity manufacture: quality controls

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Describe what steps you have taken to make your product in a batch of fifty. Show the design for jigs, templates, PCB masks, vacuum forming moulds and show how they enable consistent quality and ease of manufacture.

Describe quality controls; what checks do you make during manufacture to make sure that the final product will be well made?

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ModificationsModifications

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During manufacture you will almost certainly have changed some aspects of your design. Use drawings and diagrams to explain what you have changed and why.

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Evaluation: testingEvaluation: testing

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Show how you tested your product with the customer. Photographs often help. Describe the successes and failures revealed by the testing.

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Evaluation against Evaluation against specificationspecification

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Show how you tested your product with the customer. Photographs often help. Describe the successes and failures revealed by the testing.

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Suggested modificationsSuggested modifications

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After evaluation you may have more ideas for improvements; show them here.

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