Summary of a Product Analysis
Rusty Presendorfer
January 12, 2007
Summary of a Product analysis
Looking carefully at existing products that are similar to the one you are going to design is a very important part of the design process. To learn successfully from existing products you have to look at them with a 'critical eye'. Looking critically at products and asking questions about them is known as product analysis.
Analysing graphic products
When you analyse a product, you should always use the 5WM approach. This will act as a good starting point. For example, a point of sale display is a graphic product, so if you were analysing the point of sale display in the photo, you might ask the following questions.
Who is the product aimed at?
To answer this question, you have to think of the type of product being promoted. For example, soap powder is usually aimed at adults. Look to see if there are any visual clues. A visual clue is anything that helps you to understand what the designer's intentions were. It may be a picture, a style of writing or a particular choice of colours.
What is the purpose of the point of sale display?
The display has to hold leaflets, but how many? Does the number of leaflets it needs to hold affect its size? The leaflets are usually made to a standard size that could be A4, A5 or even A6. This is because paper is more easily available in these sizes. Holding leaflets is probably the primary function (or main purpose) of the point of sale display. It will also have secondary functions of attracting attention to the product being advertised on the leaflets, and helping to sell it.
What material has been used and why?
Cardboard is usually used for point of sale displays. There are several reasons for this:
• Cardboard is cheaper than acrylic. This is important because usually point of sale displays only have to last for as long as the product promotion.
• It is easy to print on to. This helps to keep costs down.
• It can be folded
January 12, 2007
Summary of a Product analysis
Looking carefully at existing products that are similar to the one you are going to design is a very important part of the design process. To learn successfully from existing products you have to look at them with a 'critical eye'. Looking critically at products and asking questions about them is known as product analysis.
Analysing graphic products
When you analyse a product, you should always use the 5WM approach. This will act as a good starting point. For example, a point of sale display is a graphic product, so if you were analysing the point of sale display in the photo, you might ask the following questions.
Who is the product aimed at?
To answer this question, you have to think of the type of product being promoted. For example, soap powder is usually aimed at adults. Look to see if there are any visual clues. A visual clue is anything that helps you to understand what the designer's intentions were. It may be a picture, a style of writing or a particular choice of colours.
What is the purpose of the point of sale display?
The display has to hold leaflets, but how many? Does the number of leaflets it needs to hold affect its size? The leaflets are usually made to a standard size that could be A4, A5 or even A6. This is because paper is more easily available in these sizes. Holding leaflets is probably the primary function (or main purpose) of the point of sale display. It will also have secondary functions of attracting attention to the product being advertised on the leaflets, and helping to sell it.
What material has been used and why?
Cardboard is usually used for point of sale displays. There are several reasons for this:
• Cardboard is cheaper than acrylic. This is important because usually point of sale displays only have to last for as long as the product promotion.
• It is easy to print on to. This helps to keep costs down.
• It can be folded