HKDSE DAT key terms

An organised sequence of stages such as identifying a need, research, idea generation, development, testing and evaluation that designers follow to turn a problem into a workable solution.

A short written statement agreed with a client that sets out the problem to be solved, the target user, constraints and the intended outcome of a design project.

A detailed list of measurable requirements a product must meet, such as size, performance, materials, safety and cost, used to judge whether a design is acceptable.

A limit placed on a design, such as budget, available materials, manufacturing equipment, safety regulations, time or user ability, that restricts the range of possible solutions.

An approach in which a design is repeatedly built, tested and revised, so that each cycle improves the product rather than aiming for a perfect result first time.

The study of how people physically interact with products and workplaces, used to match dimensions, forces and controls to human body size and capability.

The measurement of human body dimensions and ranges of movement, providing data such as reach, grip and percentile sizes that designers use to size products.

A design approach that places the needs, abilities and behaviour of the end user at the centre of decisions, often using observation, interviews and usability testing.

A physical or digital early version of a product built to test function, appearance or manufacture before full production, ranging from rough models to near-final samples.

A group of computer-controlled processes, especially 3D printing, that build a physical model directly from a digital file in hours rather than days.

Software used to create, edit and analyse precise two- or three-dimensional drawings and models of a product, which can be shared and used for manufacture.

The use of computer software to control machine tools, so that a digital design file is converted into instructions that cut, drill or shape the actual product.

A system in which a computer reads coded coordinates and moves cutting tools or a worktable automatically, giving repeated accuracy in machining operations.

The acceptable amount by which a manufactured dimension may vary from the specified value while the part still functions and assembles correctly.

The principle that identical parts made to the same specification can be swapped without hand fitting, enabling mass production, easy repair and replacement of components.

Manufacture of large quantities of identical products using specialised machinery, division of labour and standardised parts, which lowers unit cost but reduces flexibility.

Making a limited quantity of a product in one run before switching to another, suited to moderate demand and to products that change often.

A production method in which materials and parts arrive only as they are needed, reducing stored stock and tied-up capital but requiring reliable suppliers.

The inspection and testing of products against a standard, often at the end of production, to find and reject items that fall outside the specification.

The planned system of procedures and checks built into every stage of design and production so that defects are prevented rather than detected afterwards.

A measurable characteristic of a material, such as strength, hardness, ductility, conductivity or density, that determines how it behaves in use and in manufacture.

The ability of a material to be stretched or drawn into wire without breaking, a property that allows forming and bending operations.

The ability of a material to be pressed, rolled or hammered into thin sheets without cracking, important in sheet-metal and forming processes.

A material's resistance to being scratched, indented or worn, which affects tool life, surface durability and the choice of cutting methods.

A material made by combining two or more different materials so that the finished product has properties superior to either component alone, such as glass-reinforced plastic.

A metal produced by melting and mixing two or more elements, usually to improve strength, corrosion resistance or other properties over the pure metal.

Controlled heating and cooling of a metal to change its internal structure and so alter properties such as hardness, toughness or machinability.

A process in which melted plastic is forced under pressure into a closed metal mould, then cooled and ejected, giving fast repeat production of complex shapes.

A plastic that softens when heated and hardens on cooling, and can be repeatedly reshaped, making it suitable for recycling and moulding processes.

A plastic that cures permanently when heated or mixed with a hardener, forming cross-linked bonds so it cannot be remelted or reshaped.

A drawing method that shows an object from several directions as separate flat views, such as front, top and side, arranged in a fixed layout.

A three-dimensional pictorial drawing in which the three axes are set 120 degrees apart, showing length, width and height without perspective distortion.

A fully dimensioned technical drawing that gives a manufacturer all the information needed to make a part, including views, sizes, tolerances, materials and finishes.

A drawing in which part of an object is imagined cut away and the cut surface is hatched, revealing internal features that hidden lines cannot show clearly.

A pictorial drawing in which the components of an assembly are separated along their assembly axes, showing how the parts fit together and in what order.

Legally protected rights over creations of the mind, such as inventions, designs, brands and artistic works, which can be owned, licensed and defended.

A granted legal right that gives an inventor exclusive use of a new and inventive technical solution for a limited period, in exchange for public disclosure.

A legal right protecting the outward appearance of a product, such as its shape, pattern or ornamentation, rather than how it works.

An automatic legal right that protects original creative works such as drawings, photographs, software and text from being copied without permission.