New & Emerging Technologies
New & Emerging Technologies
Design and technology is constantly evolving. New and emerging technologies change the way products are designed, manufactured and used. As a designer, you need to understand how these developments affect industry, enterprise, society and the environment — and how they influence the choices you make.
Impact on Industry
Automation and robotics have transformed the modern workplace. Factories now use robotic arms for repetitive tasks like welding car bodies or picking items in warehouses. This increases speed, consistency and reduces human error, but it also means fewer manual jobs on production lines.
New technologies have changed the design of buildings and workplaces too. Open-plan offices with digital collaboration tools allow flexible working. Factories are designed around automated systems, with safety zones separating robots from human workers. Tools and equipment have also evolved — 3D printers, laser cutters and CNC routers are now common in both industry and school workshops.
Automation increases production speed, improves consistency and reduces labour costs, but it can lead to job losses in manufacturing.
Enterprise & Innovation
Enterprise means developing a business idea and turning it into a product or service. New technologies have created new ways for designers to fund and sell their work. Crowd funding platforms like Kickstarter allow designers to raise money directly from potential customers before manufacturing begins. This reduces financial risk and tests whether there is a real market for the product.
Virtual marketing and retail allow businesses to reach global audiences through websites and social media without needing a physical shop. Co-operatives and fair trade models use technology to connect producers in developing countries directly with consumers, ensuring fairer pay.
A designer creates a new portable phone charger using solar panels. They set up a Kickstarter campaign with a target of £10,000. Backers pledge money in exchange for early access to the product. If the target is reached, the designer uses the funds to manufacture the charger. If not, no money changes hands. This model removes the need for bank loans or investors.
Sustainability & the Environment
Every product uses resources. Designers must consider whether those resources are finite (like oil and metal ores) or non-finite (like timber and cotton). The disposal of waste is also a major concern — landfill, incineration and ocean pollution all damage the environment.
Sustainable design aims to reduce negative environmental impact. This includes using recycled materials, designing for disassembly so parts can be reused, and minimising packaging. The ecological and social footprint of a product covers everything from raw material extraction to disposal.
Finite resources (oil, metal ores) will run out. Non-finite resources (timber, cotton) can be replenished if managed responsibly. Designers must consider resource type when selecting materials.
Technology Push & Market Pull
Technology push happens when a new invention drives product development — for example, the invention of graphene leading to new ultra-strong, lightweight products. Market pull is the opposite: consumer demand drives innovation, such as the demand for eco-friendly packaging leading to biodegradable alternatives.
Society, Culture & Ethical Design
Products must be designed to avoid negative impacts on people. This means considering the needs of disabled users, elderly people and different religious or cultural groups. Inclusive design ensures products work for as many people as possible.
Designers also face ethical decisions. Planned obsolescence — deliberately designing products to break or become outdated — generates repeat sales but creates waste. Ethical designers consider maintenance, repairability and the full lifecycle of their products.
Modern manufacturing uses several key systems. CAD (computer aided design) allows products to be modelled digitally before making. CAM (computer aided manufacture) uses computers to control machinery like CNC routers and laser cutters. FMS (flexible manufacturing systems) allow production lines to switch between different products quickly. JIT (just in time) manufacturing orders materials only when needed, reducing storage costs. Lean manufacturing aims to eliminate all waste from the production process.