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The 'Design Process' is an approach to solving complex problems that require a product solution. There are many different design processes used by different designers, engineers and even whole companies. Learning about different design processes can take many years of practice and study... Don't worry! You only need to understand the basics at this stage. 

In this section, we have created a range of different resources to help you learn and understand the design process. 

design briefs

Design briefs are what triggers the beginning of the design process. 

In this section we introduce how to analyse design briefs and what separates a good design brief, from a bad one...

the design process

The design process is what designers and engineers follow when they want to create new products and services. 

In this series of course notes, you will look at the first stages of the design process - briefs, research and specification. 

design factors

​Designing a product can be very complex. There are lots of different things to consider, depending on what the problem is. We call each of the different things to consider a 'Design Factor'.

Any designer or engineer must have an understanding of design factors and how they can impact on the design process. 

aesthetics

How a product looks can have a huge impact on how successful it will be commercially; people are attracted to stylish and beautiful products.

We use the word 'aesthetics' to describe how a product looks.

Understanding what makes a product look good can be very complex and it is important that you are able to accurately describe aesthetic features and qualities. These resources should help with that...

function

Course notes
Questions
Some products have one purpose, some products have many. Understanding the purpose of a product may seem simple enough, but there is more to it than you may think...

ergonomics

Ergonomics is the blanket term used to describe how humans (or animals) interact with a product. It is a fascinating and complex area of study, which encompasses everything from the sizes of people (anthropometrics), through to how we mentally perceive a product (psychology).

Having an understanding of ergonomic factors is essential for any designer or engineer and in this section of learning, you will learn the basics required. 
The following materials have been created to assess learning in this unit.
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