Similar Products
Here is a list of similar products I have researched on the internet. Details of the materials used, manufacturing techniques and typical fixtures and fittings used have been included.
Customer Research
Questionnaire
- Where in the school do you think a bench is needed most?
The astro pitch area ❑
The swimming pool area ❑
Nickelson’s field ❑
Senior pitch ❑
- What type of design would you prefer?
Themed ❑
Plain ❑
Elaborate ❑
- How many people would you like it to sit?
1 person ❑
2 people ❑
3 people ❑
4 people ❑
- What material would you like it to be made from?
Wood ❑
Recycled plastic ❑
Metal ❑
Concrete ❑
- What kind of finish would you prefer?
Painted ❑
Varnished ❑
Plastic coated ❑
- Would you like a bench with armrests or a backrest?
Both ❑
With armrests ❑
With backrest ❑
Neither ❑
Survey Results
I handed the questionnaire out to 50 people. Students, teachers, friends and relatives. The results will determine where the bench will go, the preferred style, the finish used and the overall design.
- Where in the school do you think a bench is needed most?
- What type of design would you prefer?
- How many people would you like it to sit?
- What material would you like it to be made from?
- What kind of finish would you prefer?
- Would you like a bench with armrests or a backrest?
Critical Details
These are two benches that I have photographed and measured (primary research).
Bench One – This is a simple concrete and wooden bench that is able to seat around four people.
Bench two – This was a simple wood and metal bench that is able to seat about two to three people.
Anthropometric Data
Areas Where the Bench Could Be placed
On this page just paste in a few pictures or so of the proposed areas for the bench. Also include small captions and descriptions of the areas.
Social Ethical and Environmental Issues
Social -
The bench may mean the area becomes more popular and attracts more people, as it will be a good place for people to sit and socialise. This may cause the area to become noisy. The fact it is a good area to socialise may attract large groups of young people who may make old people feel threatened due to the number of them.
Ethical/ Moral -
It would not be morally and ethically acceptable to have the benches produced in a ‘sweat shop’. The workers who assemble the benches should be fairly treated and paid. The product must be manufactured in good conditions and must also be made using materials that have been fairly traded. The country where the benches are produced should have sufficient laws and legislations in place to protect the workers.
Environmental -
If the bench is made from wood or metal it has an impact on the environment due to the fact that trees have been chopped down to supply the wood and extracting the metal causes pollution. Whereas if the bench was to be made from recycled materials, such as recycled plastic, it would have less of an environmental impact and would be using materials that would not otherwise have been used.
Analysis
Survey Information
The information gathered by the survey shows that people:
- Think that the astro pitch area is the place where the bench is needed most.
- Would prefer a themed design.
- Would like it to sit at least two people.
- The majority would like the bench to be made from wood or metal.
- The majority would prefer a varnished or painted bench.
- Would like the bench to have both armrests and a backrest.
Critical Details Information
From the critical details that I gathered, I found:
- The average bench height is 1050mm.
- The average bench length is 1980mm.
- The average seat depth is 410mm.
- The average slat thickness is 35mm.
- The most common material is wood.
- Most benches seat at least two people.
- The area where it will go is not level.
From the anthropometric data I gathered, using 5 and 95 percentile, I found:
-
The average buttock-popliteal length is between 435mm and 550mm.
-
The average popliteal height is between 355mm and 490mm.
-
The average sitting height is between 795mm and 965mm.
-
The average sitting elbow height is between 185mm and 295mm.
Specification
A list of the final criteria that the bench must meet:
Function
- It should be able to seat at least two people.
- It must go around the astro pitch area.
- It must provide comfortable seating.
Appearance
- It should be made from either wood or metal.
- It should have armrests and a backrest.
- It should be a themed design.
- It should be varnished or painted.
- It should fit in with its surroundings.
Safety
- It must not have sharp edges.
- It should be a smooth finish. For example wood should be sanded to reduce the risk of splinters.
Reliability
- It must be durable and weatherproof.
- It must be of a strong construction.
Any Other
- It must be about 1050mm high.
- It should have a seat depth of about 410mm.
- It must be able to go on uneven ground.
- It must be environmentally friendly.
