The design and manufacture of all products involves making important decisions about the choice of materials.

Whether wood, metal, or plastic, each material has its own properties and its own benefits and drawbacks. The choice of material can affect the following:-

• function
• durability
• longevity
• aesthetic

The choice of material also affects how the product to be created can be manufactured and the processes it will go through. The cost of the material can also be a factor as some rarer woods and metals can be very expensive.

Choosing the right materials has a big impact on the success of a product and knowledge these materials critical.