The Design Process
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This course is structured somewhat differently to many OU courses - each Block and related GDE builds upon the next working through the design process, so:
- Blocks 1&2 are about the briefing stage which includes: research, marketing and specification,
- Block 3 is about conceptual design that is, coming up with creative solutions,
- Block 4 layout/embodiment design, that is, starting to consider the individual components and where they are going to fit
- Block 5 detail design, that is sizes, manufacture and material selection,
- Block 6 Product Development.
Thus each block is NOT mutually exclusive and you cannot finish a block and then forget it until the exam.
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If the question for TMA or exam suggests using sketches it means there are MARKS for sketches so make sure you provide some!
They do have to be wonderful works of art but they do need to communicate the information - do include annotations when appropriate
The aim of the course is to understand the design process and the practices designers use to produce products - it is not about producing new product designers