Why do we evaluate?

One reason to evaluate is to improve what we do. Everything we do and everything

that affects us, we evaluate. We evaluate the way we perform, the performance of
others, the products that we use in our lives and the food we eat. Our ability to
analyse and evaluate is a primary defence mechanism that has been developed to a
very fine level of understanding our environment and how we integrate into it.
Often, evaluation takes place at a sub conscious level. Products that we use,
especially food products, are evaluated immediately. As consumers we tend to
evaluate products using value judgements. We look at different products and
compare the merits of each. As Designers we need to evaluate, consciously, by using
criteria or specifications against which we can make balanced judgments.
• Consumers often value utility, security, availability, rarity, aesthetics and value
for
money.
• Designers may often consider function, reliability and ease of manufacture more
important

The five major elements (Key Design Features) of the design mix are:
• Appearance
• Performance
• Quality
• Durability
• Cost
Using these elements we can analyse and evaluate the products that we intend to make
or purchase.
Evaluation can take a number of different forms. If we take the example of car
evaluation
Fitness for purpose:
• Government safety testing – concerned solely with technical features – Brakes,
Seat belts, shock absorption, Tyres,
Comparison with other products:
• Consumer reports – Price comparison, associated running costs, assessment of
VFM
Associated purposes:
• User Trials – Comfort handling, appearance, safety features, space and visibility
factors which relate to the use of the product by the people.
Design Improvements:
• Environmental aspect. The environment is becoming a more important factor in
the evaluation of a product. How the product impacts on the environment has
become an essential issue. Does it pollute? Is it re-cyclable?

IB Criteria for Evaluation

• Manufacture: must be well made, and designed to suit the method of production.
• Materials: materials must suit purpose.
• Performance: Product must fulfil its purpose efficiently, be reliable, easy to use
and maintain
• Aesthetics: aesthetically pleasing in form, colour and texture.
• Economics: cost of materials and manufacture must make the product affordable
by the user group for which it was designed
• Health and safety
• Ergonomics: ease and comfort of use, appropriate shape and size for the
intended
user.
• Quality: durability and reliability
• Wider impact: consequences of the products impact on the individual, society
and environment.
• Product Specifications: The features it needs to possess.
 • User Characteristics: special capabilities, requirements and limitations of the
people who use the product.

Activity
Choose five evaluation criteria from the above list
Collect information about five cameras from various sources.
The cameras must be of the same format and within a price range of 500 HK$ - 60 000
HK$
between the most expensive and the cheapest.
Identify the intended user group for the format you have chosen and describe what you
think they require from the cameras performance.
Analyse the information and use the information to make your choice of which you
think is the best camera based on the criteria that you have chosen to evaluate the
cameras with.
Use presentation and spreadsheet software to produce a graphical presentation that
shows how you compare and rate each camera according to your chosen criteria.
Biblograph all your sources of information.