Criterion D: Evaluating

Task D1 and D2: Testing Against Specification

In this section, tests will be conducted for each specification in order to judge its
success. These tests are authentic and will mostly be completed by the intended client to
gain valuable feedback.
Below is a table summarizing the specifications for this product:

Categories

1. Functions

Specification

1.1 The product must include have a clear, reflective mirror.

1.2 The product must securely hold at least 2 liquid bottles and a cup

2. Aesthetics

2.1 The products design must be minimalistic

2.2 The product must compliment the aesthetics of the bathroom such
as the use of materials and colors

3. Properties

3.1 The product must be water-resistant

4. Dimensions 4.1 The product must have the dimensions range between 30cm135cmx30cm-180cm

4.2 The product needs to have a mirror that is at least 30x30cm

5. Safety

5.1 The product must be securely wall-mounted

Key
The specification has be fully met
The specification has been partially met
The specification has not been met

Note: For these tests, I have used strong double-sided tape to temporarily stick the
products up. I did not have enough time to wall mount it so I brought the tape to stick
behind and I will wall mount it later.

Function 1.1: The product must include have a clear, reflective mirror.
Method of Testing and Intentions
This products function will be tested by checking whether the mirror is clear or reflective.
I will test out the function and clarity of my mirror by self-checking whether I am able to
see myself clearly or not.
Results
As soon as I stuck my product up and peeled the mirror out,
there are a few minor scratches and a huge peel in the mirror.
As seen in the pictures below, my mirror has a big ugly scar
where I cannot see myself at all.
(This happened because during the manufacturing process in
school, I did not dare to peel off the protective sticky paper to
prevent the mirror from getting scratched while taking it home
and wall mounting it so I did not know).
Other than this, I have observed that the mirror is very
distorted. It does not provide me with an accurate reflection of
myself which defeats its purpose.

Seen from the-results, the

is distorted so this specification has not been achieved.

mirror is not clear and

The specification has not been met

Function 1.2: The product must securely hold at least 2 liquid bottles and a cup

Method of Testing and Intentions

A performance test will be conducted to test the product under the conditions in which it
will be used. I will place exactly 2 liquid bottles and a cup on the shelf. This will allow me
to determine whether it has enough space to store my necessary toiletries.
Results
Below are pictures taken of my shelf in use with the toiletries on.

This test concludes that my mirror is able to hold 2 liquid bottles, a cup and more seen
by the evidence above.
The specification has been fully met

Aesthetics 2.1: The products design must be minimalistic

Method of Testing and Intentions

To analyze the success of this spec, I will ask other teenagers (my possible target
market) what the design theme of the product is. If the majority answers simple,
minimalistic or something along this line, it will prove that I have clearly created my
product to be minimalistic.
Results
I have asked my school friends the question, what do you think is the theme of the
products design. This will allow me to judge whether it has a minimalistic design
according to my target market or not.
Name
Pan
Vaibhaw

Answer
Simple, Plain
Minimalistic

Nikki
Jub
Grace
Amy

Minimalistic, Abstract
Simple
Simplistic Modern
Simple

Concluded from my findings, the majority believes that my design has a simplistic
design. The others also found it modern and personal. So, as the majority says that the
product follows a minimalistic design, I am successful with this specification.
The specification is fully met

Aesthetics 2.2: The product must compliment the aesthetics of the bathroom such as
the use of materials and colors.
Method of Testing and Intentions
I will place the products on the desk self test whether it matches with the room.
Additionally, I will compare similarities of the product and rooms properties. Testing this
will determine whether the products aesthetics matches with the room or not.
Results
I have placed the mirror and shelf in its intended spot to judge whether it matches the
room. Here are some pictures:

I have compared the materials and colors of the room and the product to check whether
it is somewhat in the same color scheme and whether it matches. Below are pictures of
different aspects of the product and the room:

Clearly, these
colors
compliment each other and do
not
contrast each other.
The shelfs
pinewood is similar
with the
bathroom sink, the
white
boarder of the mirror
contrasts with the bathroom
tiles
and the reflective mirror compliments all the colors as well as makes the bathroom look
bigger. The design is plain and has light colors so it fits in easily and contrasts with my
bathrooms patterned design. Additionally, my parents have also agreed with this finding.
So it can be concluded that the aesthetics of my product matches the bathroom.

The specification has been fully met

Properties 3.1: The product must be water resistant

Method of Testing and Intentions
To test whether my products are water resistant or not, I have dropped drops of water on
the materials (materials are either varnished or painted with TOA) to see whether it is
able to resist small quantities of water if it were to get wet.
Results
I have dropped a few drops of water on the shelfs pinewood and the mirrors white
colored wood and mirror. Beside are some pictures of how it looked like:

With both products having either resistant paint or varnish, the water does not soak into
the surfaces at all. It surprisingly just sits there and falls off the product. Therefore, my
specification has been fully met.
The specification has been fully met

Dimensions 4.1: The product must have the dimensions range between 30cm135cmx30cm-180cm
Method of Testing and Intentions
The product will be measured and seen if it is in the range of the dimensions. I will only
be only measuring the mirror as it is my main product and the specs are made for this
product only and not the shelf.
Results
I have measured my mirror product with a measuring tape and the measurements are:
Length: 69cm
Width: 56cm
The measurements are in the range. Therefore, my spec has been met.
The specification has been fully met

Dimensions 4.2: The product needs to have a mirror that is at least 30x30cm

Method of Testing and Intentions

The mirror itself will be measured and seen if it reaches the dimension requirements of
30x30cm. This will justify whether the mirror is big enough for me to use it conveniently.
Results
I have measured my mirror with a measuring tape and the measurements are:
Length: 58cm
Width: 44m
The measurements are in the range. Therefore, my spec has been met.
The specification has been fully met

Safety 5.1: The product must be securely wall-mounted

Method of Testing and Intentions
The product has not been wall mounted due to time constraints so I cannot judge
whether the wall mount is secure or not. I will wall mount it later when I have the time.
Results
The specification has not been met

After having carried out these tests, this table indicates whether or not each intended
specification was met.

Categories

1. Functions

Specification

1.1 The product must include have a clear, reflective mirror.

1.2 The product must securely hold at least 2 liquid bottles and a cup

2. Aesthetics

2.1 The products design must be minimalistic

2.2 The product must compliment the aesthetics of the bathroom such
as the use of materials and colors

3. Properties

3.1 The product must be water-resistant

4. Dimensions 4.1 The product must have the dimensions range between 30cm135cmx30cm-180cm

4.2 The product needs to have a mirror that is at least 30x30cm

5. Safety

5.1 The product must be securely wall-mounted

Task D3: Suggested Improvements

After concluding the specifications that have been met, the strengths and weaknesses of
the product has been analyzed in order to determine any improvements. These are the
weaknesses and strengths of my product:
Strengths
1. Mirror has a classic, traditional design to it
2. Shelf has a unique abstract design
3. Shelf is thick enough to place the items on, and is able to place double the
amount I have intended it to
4. All of the colors and materials used matches with the aesthetics of the bathroom
5. Both products look pretty strong

Weaknesses
In order to possibly eliminate these weaknesses, I have listed improvements and its
justification. (I am happy about the design I have, but its execution needs improvement).

Suggestions for improvements

1. Replacing the current mirror with a
new one that is not scarred or is
distorted.

Justification
This is the most important change I will
need to make before anything as the
mirrors appearance and function
downgrades due to the big scar in the side
of the mirror and its distortion. The solution
to this is to find a new mirror material that
is not available in the DT workshop. I will
also need to make sure that the mirror is
absolutely spotless and clean and that
there are no surprise blemishes on it. Also,
the mirror needs to have an accurate
representation and not be distorted. This
will allow me to use this mirror, accomplish
my specification and solve my problem.
This is very important.

2. Clean up the white paint job of the

mirrors wooden outline and also
varnishing its surface to be more water

resistant.

3. Enlarge the mirror size as I feel that it is

still a bit too small. I would really like a
larger one. I would improve this by either
finding a laser cutter that is capable of
cutting a large acrylic piece or to use a
scroll saw to cut it (much harder).

4. Increase the thickness of the mirrors

backboard.

I do not like the vertical paint strokes

evident on the boarder of the wood, even
though my parents like how it adds more
detail and pattern to the product. For me, it
looks extremely messy. There are also
small cracked bits at the edges, which
shows that the paint is not that durable.
So, I will definitely need to repaint this the
outline with a smoother paintbrush, a flatter
more durable paint with many (4-5) layers.
In addition, I will varnish over the white
paint to make the product more water
resistant (function) and also look nicer as it
looks smoother and shinier (aesthetics).
Completing this improvement will make my
product look more professional, usable as
well as becoming more durable.
As explained in Criterion C, I had to use a
much larger acrylic mirror. However, it
could not be cut using the laser cutter so I
had to shrink it. I should make the mirror
bigger as I feel that it is still a bit too small.
This is subjective to my personal
preference and since I am my own client,
this improvement will definitely make me
be more able to use it and not feel
restricted. In addition, there is a lot of
space left in the wall so there would be no
harm in enlarging the mirrors size.
I find that the white painted wood that is
used as the outlining and backboard of the
mirror is too thin. The mirror and the other
wood piece itself is even thicker than the
backboard. I find it a bit unbalanced and a
bit risky when I see it as all the weight is
emphasized on the front of the mirror. And
possibly when I wall mount this product; it
may flip over as the mirror part is heavier
than the backboard.
To improve, I will add a thicker wood layer
to balance the weight out effectively. This

5. Varnish the shelfs pinewood even more

to make it more shiny and water resistant.

6. To permanently wall mount the shelf and

mirror

will make the product function safer and

look more balanced.
Similar to my first improvement, I only
varnished 2 very thin layers on the
pinewood so the pinewood does not look
shiny, that clean and that smooth. By
varnishing it more, it will allow the shelf to
be more functional as it is more water
resistant and it also adds to the aesthetics
of the shelf, as it looks cleaner and shinier.
So, I should varnish at least 3-4 more
thicker and even layers on all of the
surface and edges of the pinewood shelf.
As the only specification I have not fully
completed is wall mounting the product, I
will need to attach a wall mount to both the
shelf and the mirror. This is will be done
after I have made the changes and
improvements as listed above for my
product to be actually usable. If it is not
wall mounted, it would not be able to be
used. I will get it wall mounted by buying
the different mounting equipment and
letting someone actually install it for me
safely. It needs to be safely mounted to
remove the safety hazards in using the
product.

Task D4: Impact Analysis

I will be describing how successful my products were in solving the problem I have
identified.

I have touched up my skills such as the scroll saw, disk sander, sanding, 2D design
which I have used since I was in year 7 (4 years ago) and this is the last official time I will
every be using them again. Other than this, I have learned to become more independent
in this subject, use Fusion to create numerous designs and also how to drill by myself.
Despite not studying design technology ever again in my life, I will be able to transfer
these useful skills in my future education and job such as designing, processing,
planning, evaluating, testing, etc.
I think that my products are successful apart from the mirrors scar, which I did not
expect. The product has evidently solved the problem I have created. It has improved my
own situation, as I both have a place to store my toiletries and a relatively large mirror to
look at myself (if the mirror were changed). Despite not following my initial plan, I have
created a solution to switch the situation by creating two separate pieces to fully fulfill the
intention of being a mirror and shelf. However, I have listed improvements and changes
that should be done as I feel that my mirror and shelf will need to be more tidied up,
become bigger, cleaner and meet the two specifications even more before I permanently
wall mount it up. Soon enough, I will finally have a mirror and a good shelf to use in my
bathroom. If I complete the changes, I will definitely use it that solves my problem. But
for now, if I have the time I will be making these improvements to enhance its aesthetics,
durability and function.
As I think about how aesthetics impact me, I realize that having a product that improves
the functionality in my bathroom will allow me to be more convenient, efficient, organized
in the bathroom if I complete the improvements(especially not having to move to the
mirror in the makeup table outside). With the shelf, parents would also complain less if I
have a neater sink . So this product does not only benefit my use, but also to reduce
my parents energy they spend on complaining about my organization at home.
Hopefully I will be using these products in my last few months in Bangkok before I leave.

Task D5: Picture of a Caramel Milkshake