Social and moral issues in product design
A social problem is an undesirable condition that people believe should be corrected. A moral issue is concerned with the principles of right conduct or the distinction between right and wrong, so concerning ethical issues.
(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/moral)

Both social and moral issues affect product design from the beginning of the process of designing and making the final product. The designer begins by conducting some market research on the public to find out what local people want to buy, as this would be unwise to design and to produce a product that no one will want to buy. This market research can be carried out by interviews/questionnaires and is used to gather people’s views on the products they like, the functions and features they require and the amount they would be prepared to pay.

The designer does not just think about the way that the product will work. They also will consider how it will be made and how it will be used. This means that the designer has to be very aware of what is acceptable and what is not acceptable to society.

Most people would prefer the products they want to be low cost and good quality.
One-way of reducing the manufacturing costs is using computer controlled machines or robots to make the products. A negative effect of this is that fewer people are employed. A positive effect is that computer-controlled systems create jobs for highly skilled workers to develop, program and maintain these systems.

Another way of reducing costs is to make products in countries where labor costs are low. Sometimes the conditions for workers in these countries are far below UK standards. Pollution may also be higher. There is also an environmental cost in transporting goods all over the world.

New products influence society and how we live our lives. Many of these changes are positive, but the designer also has to consider the possible negative effects.

For example, mobile phones are a relatively recent invention. They brought interaction that is more social - people can keep in touch while on the move. In addition, they help in emergencies. However, using them inappropriately, such as when driving, increases the risk of accidents. Some people also get irritated when others have loud phone conversations in public places. If mobile phones are seen as ‘fashion items’ then people buy new phones even though their old one is still working. This wastes resources and has a negative effect on the environment.
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/design/resistantmaterials/designsocialrev5.shtml)

Culture is the way that history and beliefs influence society. The intensity of culture varies from country to country, even between different groups within the same society. For example, in South Africa red is the colour of mourning. However, in China red symbolizes good fortune. Trying to sell the same red product in those two countries would get a very different response. The is example shows how much of a big influence culture has on what people call ‘good’ and ‘bad’ design. Another example being Japan, in Japan traditionally people sit on the floor to eat the family meal. The design for dining furniture will be very different for Japan for that in Europe. These examples hammers home the importance of doing market research on the countries culture or cultural group before designing a product to ensure the design is suitable for the public.

This quote is very important to consider when focusing on the social and moral issues of a product. “The designer doesn’t just think about the way that a product will work. They also consider how will it be made and how it will be used.” This means that the designer has to be very aware of what is acceptable and what is not acceptable to society.

Environmental issues are a mixture of social and moral issues. Making a product using resources, such as raw materials and energy. This has an impact on the environment. The designer has to think about three fundamental questions: * The material used to make the product. * The life of the product * What happens to the product at the end of its life?
So one-way to reduce the impact on the environment is to use less material in the product. This might even mean finding out what is needed whether the product could be made thinner or smaller and still do the same job. It could also mean using an alternative material with better properties, so that not as much of the material is required.

Most products have a limited life. This means that eventually they stop working, are worn out or are thrown away. Designers have to consider how long a product will last and what will happen when it is no longer needed.
A product with a long life uses less material than several short-lived replacements. This is good for the environment. However, a longer life also means that the manufacturer will sell less replacement products.
One way of extending product life is using better materials – like stronger materials or materials that resist corrosion. Another way is through design to allow their life to be extended by maintenance.
At the end of their useful life, most products are disposed of in some way. How this is carried out can have a significant effect on their impact on the environment.
A large proportion of products that we use currently end up in landfill – this means that they are buried in underground rubbish dump. This is one of the least environmentally friendly methods of disposal.

Finally, the six R’s are considered which is an important checklist. Designers use this checklist to reduce the environmental impacts of products. They also can be used to evaluate the environmental impact of other products. These stand for:

Reduce -is it possible to reduce the amount of materials used? This will help to protect valuable resources.

Rethink - is there a better way to solve this problem that is less damaging to the environment?

Refuse - this means not accepting things that are not the best option for the environment. For example, is the packaging really needed?

Recycle - could recycled materials be used, or is the product made from materials that are easy to recycle?

Reuse - could the product have another use? Could its parts be used in other products? Is this information clearly communicated on the product? This will extend its life.

Repair - is the product easy to repair? This will extend its life.

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/design/resistantmaterials/designsocialrev9.shtml)