Textiles+-+Ethical+Design+&+Manufacture

Obviously designers have to think about what people want from a product. But consumer demand is a complex matter. **//Consume//**rs are influenced by fashion, by public perceptions, by moral attitudes, and by changing lifestyles. Product designers need to consider all these factors, as well as making sure the product conforms to current laws and standards. Design is influenced by what people want, and what people want is affected by society, cultural and market influences. These influences come in the shape of current lifestyles and fashions, and the influence of design from other times and other cultures. //**Market influences**// are partly caused by the fact that people want to have the same products as their friends. You and your friends will have similar interests, which designers have to understand if their products are to fit in with your lifestyle and sell well. Designers of mobile phones know that they have to design phones which will not only meet you and your friends' needs, but also make the right kind of 'design statement' about you the users e.g. iPhone6 vs Samson Galaxy. At the same time, however, people want to be individuals, to stand out from the crowd, and express themselves by, for example, wearing clothes that look and feel unique. Designers need to understand this desire or //**'consumer choice**'//, otherwise their products will not sell. When designing and making fashion and textile products you need to understand that there will be many instances and situations where the values of different types of people will be in conflict. Much of the information used within design and technology will be subjective because much of what we design will be to satisfy the demands of clients, customers, etc. You need to apply //**value**// judgments. **//Values//** is not just value for money, but can be the values of different types of people, that can cause conflict, for instance between young and old people. Designers need to make judgments about how to resolve conflicts and find compromise solutions. It is very difficult to satsify the demands for all people. Society is increasingly demanding and consumes an increasing amount of resources.

Watch the video with the above statements in mind. media type="custom" key="27373464" The strategy, characteristics, applications and advantages/disadvantages of the following ‘value’ issues when designing and manufacturing products: media type="custom" key="27373468" Preview from Pumpkin Interactive educational video: Ethical Textiles Read the following pdf and answer the questions: When you are designing and making your fashion and textile products you need to consider the following questions: Using the above statements - look at an item of clothing (from the clothes rail) and investigate it, make notes, add images and include a linked bibliography. For more information for AQA students - click the moral, social & cultural issues button above.
 * //What are the strategies, application and advantages / disadvantages of moral, social & cultural issues in fashion and textile products?// **
 * built-in obsolescence in new products for a ‘throwaway’ culture
 * offshore manufacture of mass-produced products in developing countries by multinational companies
 * tolerance of different cultures to avoid offence.
 * Task **
 * 1) What is the effect of your product on society? For example, think about the effect that the motor car has had on society, attitudes, lifestyles, values, work etc.
 * 2) What effect will the production/manufacture of your product have? For example, could the factories used to make your product have an effect on the society (positive or negative)?
 * 3) Where would your product be manufactured? For example, think about the location of the manufacturing base - country, area or location (urban/rural).
 * Task **

The AQA mark scheme for Criterion 2 says that you need to show you understand **‘the implications of a wide range of issues including social, moral, environmental and sustainability’** and that they are **‘taken into consideration and inform the development of your design proposals’**.

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