Product design

Article By:

Felver, Richard I. Carnegie Institute of Technology, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Last reviewed:January 2020

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.546900

The determination and specification of the parts of a product and their interrelationship so that they become a unified whole. The design must satisfy a broad array of requirements in a condition of balanced effectiveness. A product is designed to perform a particular function or set of functions effectively and reliably, to be economically manufacturable, to be profitably salable, to suit the purposes and the attitudes of the consumer, and to be durable, safe, and economical to operate. For instance, the design must take into consideration the particular manufacturing facilities, available materials, know-how, and economic resources of the manufacturer. The product may need to be packaged; usually it will also need to be shipped so that it should be light in weight and sturdy of construction. The product should appear significant, effective, compatible with the culture, and appear to be worth more than the price. The emphasis may differ with the instance. Durability in a paper napkin is different from durability in a power shovel.

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