Finding alternative solutions

In this step, a list of the possible solutions is made and the pros and cons of each solution are discussed. Engineers will sometimes create a checklist of characteristics of the possible solutions and decided what could be changed to better the final result. “Brainstorming” is a great way to decide what is good about the solution and what could be changed to better the solution.

3. Find the information about famous designers and complete the following table. Use internet resources:

Name
Dates
Nationality, country
Famous for designing

Read the story about Kenneth Blake, Furniture Designer. Ask him questions about his design.

Kenneth Blake: Furniture Designer

I decided to use plastic because it’s durable. You can make it in a lot of colors and it’s easy to mass-produce plastic items.

I went to the local garden center to examine the chairs other companies made, the rival products, and to find out their cost - about €20. I bought three different models. I wanted a chair without arms so I cut the arms off one. This made the back too weak so I added vertical supports to make the back stronger.

I sketched my designs on paper, and from these I produced technical drawings with all the dimensions. I made a full-scale model to make sure the chair looked good and was comfortable. Then I transfer my drawings to a 3-D computer modeling program, and sent a copy by file transfer to the moulding company.

They made a mould and sent me a prototype chair. I added more supports to the back and the chair was ready to produce.

Write questions to ask Kenneth about his design. The answers should be in the text above.

EXAMPLES

Why did you go to the garden center?

How much do garden chairs cost?

Did you make a model?

4 Now practice your questions in pairs. Take turns to ask and answer.

Glendinning, Eric H. (2007) Technology. Oxford university press.

Pp. 16 – 21

It’s my job

1 Study the requirements in the design brief for Kenneth Blake, a Furniture Designer. Then match each requirement to the correct reason.

Product: garden chair

Requirements Reason

1 lightweight a stores easily in winter

2 strong b spends most of the time outside

3 stackable c supports heavy adults

4 available in a range of colors d keeps manufacturing costs low

5 durable e easy to lift

6 comfortable f competes with rivals

7 easy to mass produce g looks attractive

8 sells for less than €20 h encourages people to use it

2 Read about Kenneth. Complete sentences 1-6 with words from the text.

1 Plastic is very hard-wearing – it’s_____________.

2 A company which competes with yours is a ____________.

3 A __________helps to make a structure stronger.

4 Kenneth ______his designs first and then makes finished drawings.

5 You can make hundreds of plastic chairs from one_____________.

6 A ___________is a model which is ready for testing.

LESSON 16

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