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Design Brief
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Project:
In this project I intend to explore my own interests through product design. The project will solidify all the work I have completed over the last few years to have a basic understanding a product I could develop further. during this process it will enable me to greatly on my specialist pathway. As an aspiring product designer that is going to university to study it next year I aim to gain a greater understanding of the product design process but also develop the skills I have previous knowledge on - in which i have gained over the previous 2 years in my art and design college course. I will also use the work i create in this project to develop my portfolio.
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Objective:
The objective of my product is to have a basic understanding of how I can develop a cassette player that will interest the current generation and therefor help promote mental health. I will explore shape , form and colour during the process. I also aim to gain a better understanding of how to design and research as a product designer. Understanding how to prototype effectively is also a section I aim to understand by the end of this project. I aspire to make sustainable materials and inclusive design a major part of my user centred design process. This must be completed by the 27th of may meaning I am designing with a time frame (adding an extra objective)
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Target Audience:
My main and obvious target audience is people who like music- they will automatically be attracted to a cassette player as it plays music (which is an interest of theirs). As well as this the younger generation - from teenagers to young adults up to the age of 35. I believe this may be for multiple reasons. The first one being cassettes are now seen as a vintage item and the younger generation have a keen interest in items that are seen as old but cool. Back in the loop: why cassette tapes became fashionable again | Cassette tape | The Guardian
The article above can be used as research to indicate why the younger generation are developing an interest in tapes.
Like with instax cameras - fujifilm took the polaroid camera ( an old vintage item) and changed it slightly to create a newer more affordable item that attracted teenagers. I aim to have the same feel with my cassette player.
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Attitude:
My cassette player will ( like the instax camera) will be bright and colourful. I wish to have a sunset pallet for my design. Personally i have always liked the colours orange, pink and yellow and really hope i can put this part of me across into my design. As well as colour - i want my item to be accessible for the younger generation , this will mean i need to ensure my item is cheap and easy to use enabling the customers to know they can pick up the item and go , with no hurdles such as not knowing how to use it in the way. and finally above all else I need my cassette player to be fun. As mentioned before I aim to promote positive mental health, so by creating a fun product - i can bring joy to my target audience.
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Message:
Music has a positive effect on mental health (Music improves wellbeing and quality of life, research suggests | Health | The Guardian
My aim is to promote this by designing a product that will have the ability to play music- this way increasing mental health.
along with this I also aim to use colours that will bring people joy. The colours , orange , yellow and pink have positive connotations of sunrises and sunsets. When watching a sunrise or sunset you have better gratitude towards the earth (www.agoldlining.com) . The view also is pretty, this therefor increases dopamine levels in your brain meaning increased mental health.
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Format:
I plan , research and sketch. Then ,using the knowledge gathered from the research i will create prototypes - these will enable me to explore colour and shape. I hope to use organic shapes to gain an earthy feel to my product, however after research and planning this may not prove to be the best take - this is why i must partake in sketching and small prototyping before hand.
To go with my prototype i will also create design boards - these will show the planning , research and practical skills i have undertaken to get to the final item i will have created.
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Schedule:
The deadline for this project is may the 27th this means all my online work and practical work and design boards need to be finished. these will be displayed in the end of year exhibition for my college. However I would love to keep exploring this project/ ideas when i am at university. developing and refining - perhaps to create a real working cassette player.
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