How to write a design specification.

Yesterday wasn't much of a blogger day for me because my phone is half broken and I depend on that really... Because I blog when I'm out and in various places. However it's refusing to charge (DAMN YOU APPLE CHARGERS). Hopefully this problem will be solved soon and I'll be blogging regularly again. Anyway today I've decided to share this useful skill with you. If you don't know what a design specification is it's basically when you write about the product you've designed, review it and self assess it. In a fashion illustrators circumstances it would be their art that they are assessing, as a designer it would be your garment, as both it would be both. Firstly one of the key things you need to know is ACCESS FM, no it's not a radio station. I learnt this in textiles in year seven and it's really helped me. 

It stands for:

AESTHETICS 
COST
CUSTOMER
ENVIRONMENT
SIZE
SAFETY
FUNCTION
MATERIAL

It's basically a whole bunch of questions you ask yourself and then you write down your answers in the form of full sentences and you'll end up with a page of info about your product.

1. Aesthetics - What does the product look like?

• Does the product look attractive? THINK. -Shape -Form -Size
• Why does it look attractive or ugly?
• What inspired you to create this?
• Is it quality, does it have a quality finish?

2. Cost

• How much did it cost to make it? (This affects how much it's actual price will be)
• How much will the product be? 
• Why?
• Is it affordable?
• Is it value for money?
• How is the product made to attract customers?
• How much profit will it make?

3. Customers

• What is your target audience? (Who is the product designed for)
• What do they want the product to do?
• What do they want the product to look like?
• How, where, why and when should they use it?
• How does the product attract the selected target audience?

4. Environment 

• What is the product’s impact on the environment? Think batteries, rethink, refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, life cycle.
• Think about its manufacture, general use, distribution and final disposal when it is no longer needed.

5. Safety 

• Have you considered safety issues?
• Is it safe?
• How?

6. Size

• How big/small is it
• units? (cm,mm..etc)
• Is the size appropriate?

7. Function and Form

• How does the product work?
• How well does the product work?
• How could it be improved?
• What are it's special features?
• What is the purpose of the product?

8. Materials 

• What is the product made from?
• Is it Eco friendly?
• Would another material work better?