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PRODUCT ANALYSIS

Everyday we use or come into contact with hundreds of manufactured products, but have you ever thought about how they work or the way they are made in this way ?

Every manufactured product is designed and made using materials and manufacturing techniques which have been chosen for a variety of reasons.

Product analysis enables us to develop our understanding of why particular materials and processes are used and how economic, aesthetic, environmental and social issues influence decisions about how products are manufactured. 

An understanding of the decisions made by other designers can help us make similar decisions when designing and making for ourselves.

How do you analyse a product ?

It is probably best to start with simple products (those that do not contain a large number of components) before moving on to more complex ones. 

Many products are really systems that consist of a number of smaller sub-systems or components. 

Start by analysing one of the components or sub-systems before you move on to the product as a whole.

Begin by asking yourself three important questions:

Finding the answer to these questions will lead you to an understanding of the Design Specification that the products original designers will have worked towards.