DevelopmentCritical Dimensions

Development Process

Technology

Critical dimensionsErgonomics

AnthropometryMaterial selection

Aesthetics

Function

Production methodModelling

Artefact making

Critical DimensionsWhat is it? It is essentially finding out all important and relevant

dimensions that are associated to the product that you are making

It is also used to derive the dimensions of the product

Example 1:

A product designer wants to design and make a phone holder to be used in the car when the person is driving.

What are the critical dimensions that he needs to find?

Length of phone

Breadth of phone

Thickness of phone

Example 2:

A Furniture designer wants to make a shoe rack for a family of three. What are the critical dimensions that he needs to find?

Length of shoe

Height of shoe

Width of shoe

Example 2:After finding critical dimensions, what next?

Derive the overall dimensions of the product

Length of shoe rack = 3 times the width of the 2 shoes

Breadth of shoe rack = length of 1 shoe

Height of shoe rack = height of 1 shoe

Example 3:

A designer wants a product that can store water of around 1 litre to water the plants.

What are the critical dimensions needed to derive the overall dimensions of the product?

Solution:1 litre = 1000cm3

Therefore, the volume needed to store the water has to be 1000cm3.This means that the length x breadth x height = 1000cm3

A possible set of dimensions could be:

10 cm 10 cm

10 cm

Conclusion

Need to know what are the main functions of the product and get the dimensions of the required things associated with the product

Sometimes, quantity plays a part in deriving the overall dimensions of product (eg. The number of shoes define the size of the product)

Sometimes, other forms of measurable data is needed to determine the dimensions of product (eg. The volume of water needed determines the size of the product)

REMEMBER, all the dimensions of your product need to be derived!