Design briefs and specifications
Creating and working with design specifications and design briefs
A A set of instructions given to a designer by a client. is the statement a In business, a client is a person or organisation that wants a product manufactured, eg a retailer. gives to a designer outlining what they want their product to be like, eg ‘Design a drinks bottle holder for use while riding a bicycle’. The designer could also produce a brief on behalf of the client, as the client might have a problem but not know how to proceed.
A Document containing details of a product's required characteristics, and all the processes, materials and other information needed to design the product. is a list of criteria your product needs to address. Using the brief as a starting point for research, a specification can be written when more facts are known. Information needs to be found through research to help produce early design solutions and improvements.
If the criteria are measurable, it makes it easier to later measure how effective the design ideas are, eg ’How much will the design cost to produce?’ The specification should be constantly referred back to at the design stage to ensure the designer is taking into consideration the wants and needs of the client it is designed for.
Design specifications should include:
- How something looks.
- The purpose or reason.
- materials
- environmental issues
- performance
- The group of people a product is made for.
A Document containing clear and detailed instructions for the manufacture of a product. is created after the design is finalised and should contain enough information to enable a third party to manufacture the design. This begins with a detailed drawing with Sizes and measurements. often produced using The process of creating a 2D or 3D design using computer software. software. A parts list should then be prepared, detailing the materials that will be used to manufacture each component of the design and how they will be A protective or decorative layer added to a product such as varnish or paint..
Once these are in place, a Also known as a flow diagram. A diagram that shows the step-by-step flow of an algorithm. can be produced describing the order of production, including Quality assurance is where staff check quality throughout the production process. , A set of checks intended to ensure that a product will meet the specified customer requirements once it has been manufactured. These procedures are followed before work is complete, as opposed to afterwards. and The amount by which a measurement can vary without affecting the ability of the product to be manufactured accurately.. Machinery should also be referenced together with relevant safety considerations. Finally, before manufacture can begin, a A table that illustrates a project schedule. can be prepared that will consider the timescale allowed for the construction of the The first working model of a design used for testing, development and evaluation..
