AS 2: Coursework – Product Development
Chapter: Investigation and Analysis of Product
Welcome to your study notes for the Investigation and Analysis stage of your CCEA AS Level Technology and Design coursework (Unit AS 2). In AS 2, you will complete an internally assessed design portfolio and prototype, which makes up 50% of your total AS Level (and 20% of your full A Level).
The investigation stage is the absolute foundation of your entire project. If you build strong, detailed research now, designing your improved product later will be much easier and more rewarding. Let's break down everything you need to know step-by-step!
1. Project Focus and User Identification
Every successful design starts with a clear purpose. Under the CCEA specification, your AS 2 project focuses on the development of an existing product or solving a specific design problem through a clear brief.
Identifying the Client / Target Audience:
Before you pick up a pencil or open CAD software, you must know exactly who you are designing for.
• The Target User: Who will use this product daily? (e.g., primary school children, elderly gardeners, university students).
• The Client: Who is commissioning or purchasing the product?
User Research Methods:
To find out what your user genuinely needs, you must collect two types of research:
• Primary Research: First-hand data collected directly by you. This includes interviewing your client, sending out focused questionnaires/surveys, or observing someone physically using an existing product.
• Secondary Research: Information gathered from existing sources, such as studying market trends, product reviews, and relevant technical standards.
Top Tip: Examiners award higher marks when you prove you consulted a real client or target user at this early stage rather than just making assumptions.
2. Analyzing Existing Products
To improve a product, you first need to understand how current versions on the market succeed and where they fail. The CCEA specification requires you to analyze a minimum of two existing products.
The 6 Key Analysis Criteria
You can remember these six essential areas using the memory aid F-M-M-A-C-S ("Fast Machines Make Awesome Clean Solutions"):
1. Function:
What is the product designed to do? Does it fulfill its primary purpose effectively? What extra features does it offer?
2. Materials:
What specific materials is it made from? Why were those materials chosen? (For example: Is ABS plastic chosen for high impact resistance, or aluminium for lightweight strength?)
3. Manufacturing Processes:
How was the product made in commercial production? (For example: Injection moulding for complex, hollow plastic casings, or vacuum forming for simple shallow trays.)
4. Aesthetics:
How does the product look, feel, and appeal to the senses? Consider form, color palette, surface texture, and visual balance.
5. Cost:
What is the retail price? Does it offer good value for money compared to its build quality and materials?
6. Sustainability:
What is the environmental impact? Can the parts be easily disassembled and recycled at the end of life? Does it use recycled materials?
Examiner Pitfall to Avoid: Don't just paste photos from the internet and describe what the product looks like! Take your own original, high-quality photographs of physical products where possible. Always explain why specific materials and manufacturing methods were selected.
3. Human Factors: Ergonomics and Anthropometrics
Great products are comfortable, intuitive, and safe to use. To achieve this, you must apply human factor data to your investigation.
Ergonomics: The study of how products interact comfortably and efficiently with the human body (e.g., grip comfort, button placement, weight distribution).
Anthropometrics: The measurement of human body sizes and proportions. When analyzing existing products and planning your redesign, you must use anthropometric data percentiles:
• \(5^{\text{th}}\) Percentile: Represents the smallest \(5\%\) of the population for a specific measurement (e.g., reach, hand length, sitting height).
• \(50^{\text{th}}\) Percentile: Represents the exact median / average body dimension.
• \(95^{\text{th}}\) Percentile: Represents the largest \(5\%\) of the population (only \(5\%\) are taller or larger).
How to Apply Percentile Data:
Designers rarely design for the "average" (\(50^{\text{th}}\) percentile) alone because half the population would find it too small or too large! Instead, products are typically designed to fit the range between the \(5^{\text{th}}\) and \(95^{\text{th}}\) percentiles (the middle \(90\%\) of users), or they incorporate adjustability (like an office chair).
Example: A hand grip on a tool must be small enough for a \(5^{\text{th}}\) percentile female hand to grasp firmly, while a doorway or helmet must accommodate a \(95^{\text{th}}\) percentile male dimension.
4. Safety and Quality Standards
Your product investigation must identify the official regulations that govern your product type. Referencing official standards shows examiners that your work is professional and realistic.
• BSI (British Standards Institution): National standards producing specifications for safety, reliability, and quality in the UK.
• EN (European Standards): Standards harmonized across European nations.
• Examples: Specific standards exist for toy safety (e.g., preventing small parts choking hazards), electrical appliance safety, and personal protective equipment (PPE).
5. Writing a Measurable Design Specification
The investigation stage concludes with a comprehensive Design Specification. This is a checklist of strict requirements that your new or improved product must satisfy. It will be used later in your coursework to evaluate whether your final prototype is successful.
Required Specification Categories
Your specification must be organized under five key headings:
1. Performance: How the product must work and operate.
2. Aesthetics: Visual styling, finish, texture, and form.
3. User Requirements: Ergonomic sizes, ease of cleaning, weight, and target audience needs.
4. Safety: Compliance with BSI/EN standards, absence of sharp edges, electrical insulation.
5. Environment: Material recyclability, minimization of parts, energy efficiency.
The Golden Rule: Make It Measurable!
Avoid broad, vague statements. Every point should be quantifiable so that it can be tested and evaluated directly.
Poor (Vague): "The product must be lightweight and look nice."
Good (Measurable): "The product must have a total mass of less than \(500\text{g}\) so that a child can lift it with one hand."
Poor (Vague): "The handle must fit most people."
Good (Measurable): "The handle diameter must be \(35\text{mm}\), accommodating the \(5^{\text{th}}\) to \(95^{\text{th}}\) percentile adult hand grip."
Summary of Common Coursework Pitfalls
Keep these examiner insights in mind to maximize your marks in Unit AS 2:
• Don't rely solely on internet screenshots: Handle physical products, take original photos, and evaluate real-world performance.
• Don't just describe — analyze: Always justify why a manufacturer chose a particular polymer, metal, or moulding method over alternatives.
• Involve your client: Provide clear evidence of user surveys, interview quotes, or user testing.
• Avoid vague specifications: Ensure all specification points include numerical limits, weights, dimensions, or specific standards.
Quick Review Takeaways
• Minimum of 2 Products: Analyze at least two existing products using F-M-M-A-C-S (Function, Materials, Manufacturing, Aesthetics, Cost, Sustainability).
• Anthropometrics: Use the \(5^{\text{th}}\), \(50^{\text{th}}\), and \(95^{\text{th}}\) percentiles to justify dimensions.
• Standards: Cite applicable BSI or EN standards for safety.
• Specification: Provide a quantified, measurable list covering Performance, Aesthetics, User Requirements, Safety, and Environment.