Task A3 | ​Existing products 

🔎 What? 
 
❗Why? 
 
Analyze a group of similar products that inspire a solution to  You are trying to figure out what makes related products a 
the problem.  success (or not) and you are trying to come up with ideas for 
  your own project.  
 

⚙H
​ ow? 

Inspiration board 
● Choose ​a product idea from this list - ​Choice of Upcycled Product 
● Create​ a Pinterest board of a range of products (at least 25) that are an inspiration to your specific project.  
● Present​ a screenshot of (a large part of) your Pinterest board in your design folder. Include the title and the 
hyperlinked source of your Pinterest board. 
● ​ hen creating your inspiration board, choose products that are ​different from each other​. If the 
Consider also​ -​ W
products are very similar, you will gain only limited knowledge and inspiration for your own project, because most 
products will lead to the same conclusions. It is likely that your inspiration will not only come from products that are 
similar to what you have in mind. Quite different products may have features that inspire you as well. 
● Review​ the ​high-level example​ and the rubric (below) to ensure you have enough detail. 
● Choose and j​ ustify​ which project plan will be the foundation for your project. You will incorporate elements from other 
projects, but choose 1 that best represents what you want to make. 

Inspiration Board of​: ... Ideas 

Source:​ Mai Kashiwabara “​https://www.pinterest.com/maka2026/a3-inspiration-board/​” Pinterest Board. Feb 2020. 

PMI analysis​ | Plus, Minus, Interesting 

The command term a ​ nalyze​ is defined as​:  
 
“Break down in order to bring out the essential elements or structure​.” 
 
In this task, this means conducting a PMI analysis for the products you identified in your inspiration board. 
 
 Tips for analysis: 
● Evidence that you looked closely at the site of the pin. 
● Identified properties of the products (size, shape, style, functional effectiveness, appropriate for fabric, 
appropriate for your skill level, appropriateness for the client). 
● Bullet points but full sentences. 
● Explain why it is a strength/challenge/interesting point 
 

Analyze​ strengths (​plus​) of the products. In your analysis clearly identify and explain specific features that 
⊕  make the product successful. 

● 1. - You can use it like a normal single-use mask but it is reusable and looks nice. It has a cute design, maybe 
favored for younger people, with ribbons, or dotts.  
● 2. - for the string for the ear, it is adjustable so from young people to old peoples, they all can wear the mask 
without having to worry about it.  
● 3. - in the review, they all said they fitted for everyone so I think this shape of the mask is able to fit for 
everyone, and is comfortable. The color is just plain and a nice light colored mask.  
● 4. - it uses cotton gauze so it is soft and comfortable for the people who use it. It is a plain design which is 
easy to wear outdoors but has a little glasses logo which makes it different from others and a little fashionable. 
On the back, it has a different design, so you can choose which side you want to use, and this also makes it a 
little fashionable. It uses A
​ ntibacterial rubber. It is made by a three-dimensional structure which reduces 
breathlessness and makeup collapse. In terms of makeup, I think it is really good for adult women. So, you 
could also use it in terms of moisturizing measures when sleeping. ​This mask is made of cotton and my 
garment is also made of cotton so it might be good to make it.     
 
 

Analyze​ weaknesses (​minus​) of the products. In your analysis clearly identify and explain specific features 
⊖  that make the product less successful. 

● 1. - It is a kids size so it will probably be too small for many people. Maybe in this design, I think it might be too 
hard to make it because my garment is completely white and I will need to design many parts to make it look 
cute like the one in the photo.  
● 2. - I cannot make this design for the mask because my t-shirt is a complete white so it will be hard for me to 
be able to make this kind of design. Also, this masks design stands out a lot and there will probably be people 
who won’t want to wear it outdoors.  
● 3. - This mask has used a light color so it can easily get dirty and it only uses one color which could make the 
dirt stand out more. The  
● 4. - the string for the ear is too thin, a plain string so when you use it for a long time, it makes your ears hurt. 
Even if I would want to use this string, it will be hard for me to get this type of string which matches the mask , 
not white and is antibacterial. Not only for the string, I think it will be hard to take out some because I won't 
have any materials ready.  

Outline​ all take-aways (​interesting​) you have gained for your project by analysing the products. 
ℹ  Take-aways are Ideas that are worth remembering for later in the project. 

● 1. - I thought that it looks like a normal single-use mask even though it isn't so it should be a texture similar to 
the normal mask that we use now.   
● 2. - I have gone to the link where they sell this mask but there were no reviews or rates which tells me nobody 
has bought it and it might not be that good. Maybe the keypart part was the design more than the part where 
you can adjust the size.  
● 3. - I think the ear string is good for a mask because I often see that type of string in like hats for PE in Japan 
and it doesn’t hurt.  
● 4. - this mask has many parts that are thought for their customers they chose exactly, women, and the 
producer had thought of many worries they have about the mask and they have found the resolution for it. 
Compared to others, I feel like this little tip red glasses and the part that the fabric uses a brownish white, not 
completely white and also the part they put a design in the back side even if you can’t see it makes it 
fashionable. This mask looks different from others, where it looks more comfortable with thicker fabric.  
 
 
 

Choose and justify a project plan 

 
Select ​one​ of the products from your inspiration board and ​justify​ the choice for this product to design in the next 
 stage of the design cycle.  
 
Your justification must address the following elements: 

Why did you choose this product over the others in your inspiration board? ​Explain how it is appropriate for: 
Number 4  
- I liked each of the details that solves the problem for the people they want them to buy, they have had 
each little detail on it and it made it better.  
- From this product, I want to use the design, where there is a little logo on the side and I thought the color 
was nice where it isn’t completely white. I also liked where they explained the three dimensional structure 
which reduces breathlessness and makes it comfortable not only how it looks.  
- I think I am at a skill level around 3 and 4, because I am not that good at sewing, but I have had a subject 
in Japan where you learn sewing and I have done a little bit.  
... 
 

A3 Assessment 
Level  Descriptor  Typical features of student work 

0  The student does not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors below. 

1-2  The student ​presents​ some  ❏ The analysis of the individual products l​ ists​ specific features as strengths 
existing products that inspire a  or weaknesses. 
solution to the problem.  ❏ The inspiration board is ​not completed​, nor a link to your source. 
❏ The choice of final product demonstrates ​limited​ analysis and thinking 
about client, fabric and skill level. 

3-4  The student ​outlines​ features  ❏ The analysis of the individual products o​ utlines​ specific features as 
of some existing products that  strengths or weaknesses and leads to some further insights regarding the 
inspire a solution to the  project. 
problem.  ❏ There are a ​limited​ number and range of products in your Pinterest Board. 
There should be at least a range of 25 products that are different from 
each other 
❏ The source is included, but ​not in, proper​ MLA format. 
❏ The choice of final product demonstrates ​basic​ analysis and thinking 
about client, fabric and skill level. 

5-6  The student ​describes​ common  ❏ The analysis of each individual product or system d ​ escribes​ specific 
features of similar products  features as strengths and weaknesses and leads to meaningful insights 
that inspire a solution to the  regarding the project. 
problem.  ❏ There is a s​ ufficient​ number and range of products in your Pinterest 
Board. 
❏ The source is cited in p ​ roper​ MLA format. 
❏ The choice of final product demonstrates ​sufficient​ analysis and thinking 
about client, fabric and skill level.  

7-8  The student ​analyses​ a group  ❏ The analysis of each individual product or system e
​ xplains​ specific 
of similar products that inspire  features as strengths and weaknesses and leads to impactful further 
a solution to the problem.  insights regarding the project. 
❏ There is an e
​ xtensive​ number and range of products in your Pinterest 
Board. 
❏ The source is cited in p
​ roper​ MLA format. 
❏ The choice of final product demonstrates ​sophisticated​ analysis and 
thinking about client, fabric and skill level.