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.

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.

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When a product is intentionally designed to become outdated or unfashionable after a period of time, encouraging consumers to buy a replacement.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

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

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 manufacturing process where molten plastic is injected under pressure into a mould. 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.

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

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 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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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