Quick and dirty product analysis tool for graphic products…

We’ve had ACCESS FM[1. Aesthetics, Consumer, Cost, Environment, Size, Safety, Function, Materials] and CAFÉ QUE[2. Cost, Aesthetics, Function, Ergonomics, Quality, User, Environment] for product analysis in D&T, but talking to one of my PGCE trainees this afternoon (about a job interview) we reflected on how these don’t work quite as effectively with graphic products, as with other D&T areas. The trainee wanted to plan a ‘quick and dirty’ product analysis that could lead into a design activity[3. we decided that it would be better in this instance to lead into a pupils generating a product design specification – it’s for a 20 minute activity!]. After a quick brainstorm, TICL was created:

TICL (pronounced Tickle)…

  • Text: the way that fonts, styles, information, data, layout, etc. are used…
  • Image: the graphics (such as images, shapes, symbols) used to attract attention…
  • Colour: the choice of colours and combinations (supplementary and complimentary)…
  • Logo: the way product and company branding is used…

Needs unpacking with two to four prompt questions for each category. Will have to wait and see how it works!

Image taken from www.ecotools.com