Glossary

A mixture of two or more metals, or a metal and another element, to improve properties. Examples: brass (copper + zinc), steel (iron + carbon).

The collection and use of measurement data about the human body, used to make ergonomic decisions. Designers work from percentile data rather than averages.

Manufacturing a set quantity of identical products. Each batch goes through each stage of production before the next batch begins.

Technology that identifies a person from a unique biological characteristic such as a fingerprint, face, iris or voice.

Designing by imitating the forms, processes and systems found in nature, which have been refined by evolution.

A smooth coated paper that stops marker pen ink spreading, used for marker renderings.

An alloy of copper and tin that is hard, corrosion resistant and has low friction.

British Standards Institute — sets standards for products to ensure safety and quality.

Computer Aided Design — using computer software to create 2D or 3D designs of products.

Computer Aided Manufacture — using computer-controlled machines to manufacture products.

The total amount of greenhouse gases produced to support human activities, expressed as carbon dioxide equivalent.

An economic model in which materials are kept in use for as long as possible through reuse, repair, remanufacture and recycling, instead of being thrown away.

The four process ink colours (cyan, magenta, yellow and key/black) used to build up full-colour printed images.

Trimming printed sheets to their final size along the crop marks, removing the excess bleed.

A permanent chemical bond formed between the molecule chains of a thermosetting polymer when it sets, which stops it being softened or remoulded.

A short statement of what is to be designed, for whom and why, agreed between the designer and the client.

When a product is intentionally designed to become outdated or unfashionable after a period of time, encouraging consumers to buy a replacement.

A detailed list of criteria the design must meet, written from research findings. Good specification points are measurable.

A slight taper on the sides of a moulded product so that it can be released from the mould.

A board with a white coated top layer and a grey, often recycled, back, used for food packaging such as cereal boxes.

A pin in an injection mould that pushes the finished product out of the mould, leaving a small circular mark.

The ability of a material to bend or stretch under a force and return to its original shape when the force is removed.

Designing products, systems and environments so they fit the people who use them, and are comfortable, safe and efficient to use.

A lightweight white beaded foam that insulates well and absorbs shock, used for protective packaging.

A dense blue foam, sold under the trade name Styrofoam, that is easy to cut and shape for modelling.

A trading partnership that aims to achieve greater equity in international trade, ensuring fair wages and good working conditions for producers in developing countries.

A metal that contains iron, such as mild steel, medium carbon steel, and high carbon steel. Ferrous metals are generally magnetic and prone to rust.

Grams per square metre — the unit used to measure the weight/thickness of paper and board.

Timber from broad-leaved, deciduous trees (e.g. oak, beech). Generally harder and more durable but slower growing.

Continuous manufacture of large quantities of identical products using automated machinery. Also called mass production.

A process in which molten thermoforming polymer is forced under high pressure into a closed mould, then pushed out by ejector pins once cool. Used for high-volume production of complex shapes.

International Standards Organisation — sets internationally agreed standards for products and processes.

A device that holds a workpiece in position and guides a cutting tool to ensure accuracy and repeatability in production.

The width of material removed by a saw cut, which must be allowed for when calculating how many pieces can be cut.

A temporary fixing, such as a cam lock or corner block, that lets flat-pack furniture be assembled and taken apart.

Gluing thin strips or veneers of wood together and clamping them around a former so they set in a strong curved shape.

A method to determine the environmental impact of a product from cradle to grave — from raw material extraction through to disposal.

Heating a narrow line across a thermoforming sheet on a strip heater so it can be bent to an angle and held in a jig until it cools.

When consumer demand drives the development of a new product or technology.

Medium Density Fibreboard — a manufactured timber board made from compressed wood fibres and resin. Smooth surface, no grain, easy to cut.

A steel containing about 0.35–0.7% carbon that is stronger and harder than mild steel and can be hardened and tempered.

A material developed through new or improved processes, designed to have properties that traditional materials cannot offer.

A shape memory alloy made from nickel and titanium that returns to a predetermined shape when heated.

A metal that does not contain iron, such as aluminium, copper, and brass. Non-ferrous metals are generally non-magnetic and more resistant to corrosion.

Energy from a finite source that cannot be replaced within a human timescale. Once used, it is gone.

A high-volume printing process in which an inked image is transferred from a plate to a rubber blanket and then onto paper, relying on oil and water not mixing.

Manufacturing a single unique product to a customer’s individual requirements. Also called bespoke or job production.

An alloy of mainly tin with small amounts of copper and antimony, whose low melting point makes it ideal for casting in school.

A material that changes colour in response to changes in light intensity.

Also called built-in obsolescence — deliberately designing a product with a limited useful life so the consumer has to replace it.

Dipping heated metal into a fluidised bed of polythene powder that melts onto it to give a soft, coloured, protective coating.

The ability of a material to be permanently changed in shape without cracking, keeping its new shape once the force is removed.

A transparent, extremely tough and impact-resistant thermoforming polymer used for safety glasses and riot shields.

A thermoplastic material that becomes mouldable at low temperatures (around 62°C) and can be reshaped many times.

The stages a product goes through from introduction to decline: Introduction, Growth, Maturity, Decline.

Checking and testing products during and after manufacture to make sure they meet the specification. Quality control finds faulty products; quality assurance designs the process so faults are less likely.

QTC — a smart material whose electrical resistance decreases significantly when compressed, used in switches and sensors.

Energy from a source that is naturally replaced as fast as it is used, so it will not run out.

A metal alloy (e.g. Nitinol) that returns to its original shape when heated after being deformed.

The six principles of sustainability: Rethink, Reuse, Recycle, Repair, Reduce, Refuse.

A material whose properties change in a controlled, usually reversible way in response to an external stimulus such as heat, light, pressure, moisture or electricity.

Timber from coniferous, evergreen trees (e.g. Scots pine, western red cedar). Generally easier to work and cheaper than hardwood.

A high-quality board bleached all the way through that prints very well, used for premium packaging.

An alloy of iron, chromium and nickel that is hard, tough and resists staining and corrosion.

Softening solid timber in a steam box, then bending it around a former and clamping it until it dries in its new shape.

Meeting today’s needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

When new technology drives the creation of products that consumers did not previously know they needed.

Reheating hardened steel to a lower temperature, judged by its oxide colour, and quenching it to reduce brittleness while keeping most of the hardness.

A material that changes colour in response to changes in temperature.

A plastic that can be repeatedly softened by heating and reshaped, e.g. acrylic, polypropylene, ABS, PVC.

A plastic that is permanently set during manufacture and cannot be re-melted or reshaped, e.g. urea formaldehyde, melamine, epoxy resin.

Legislation making it illegal to describe goods falsely or misleadingly, whether on packaging, in advertising or by a salesperson.

An approach that puts the needs, wants and abilities of the end user at the centre of every design decision, involving them throughout rather than only at the end.

A process where a heated thermoplastic sheet is stretched over a mould and air is removed to form the shape.

Gluing a very thin slice of attractive timber onto a cheaper, stable base such as MDF or chipboard.

An accurate, dimensioned technical drawing giving all the information needed to make a product, including sizes, tolerances, materials and finishes.