Culture (AQA GCSE Design & Technology): Revision Note
Exam code: 8552
Changes in fashion & trends
What are fashions and trends?
Fashions and trends are styles, materials, colours and product features that are popular for a period of time and often change
Why do fashions and trends change?
Influences on society including celebrities, the media, influencers and changes in behaviour
Cultural shifts including changes to lifestyle, sports and music
Technology such as new materials, processes and technological advancements
The economy, including changes to people's income, the cost of living and the global market
Concern for the environment and ethical challenges
Designers consider changes to fashion and trends because, in doing so, they can respond to customers' changing tastes and needs
Trends, including viral online trends, can make products more appealing to customers, and products which meet customer needs have a higher chance of success
What are the drawbacks of changing fashions and trends?
Products that are entirely suitable for use can be thrown away by customers because they are no longer fashionable
Products can become obsolete when the technology they use is replaced
Any time new products replace old ones, this typically creates waste which is bad for the environment
Examiner Tips and Tricks
In the exam, you may be asked to explain how changing fashion and trends affect the environment.
Link your answer to waste, landfill and the replacement cycle — when products are discarded because they are no longer fashionable (not because they are broken), this increases waste and uses up finite resources unnecessarily.
Respecting people of different faiths & beliefs
What are faiths and beliefs?
A faith or belief is a reference to a religion, culture or personal belief held by a person that informs how they live their life
As a designer, respecting faiths and beliefs is important to avoid offence, exclusion or unfairly disadvantaging someone with a product or service
Why is respect for faiths and beliefs important?
Modern society is highly diverse, and all customers should be treated equally
Design which accounts for faiths and beliefs will be ethical and inclusive
Failure to consider faiths and beliefs is an example of discrimination
How can designers successfully design for faiths and beliefs?
Carry out research into the particular faith or belief in relation to the product being designed
Consider alternative design choices to reflect the faith or belief (e.g. using artificial leather instead of animal leather)
Consider historical relevance to colours, symbols and imagery in the design process
Ensure product designs are adaptable to different customers
Focus on making a product as inclusive as possible rather than exclusive
Worked Example
A designer is creating a new range of footwear. Explain two ways the designer could ensure the range is inclusive of different faiths and beliefs.
[4 marks]
Answer:
Way 1: The designer could use artificial leather instead of animal leather [1 mark], as some faiths such as Hinduism consider cows to be sacred and would not wear products made from animal skin [1 mark].
Way 2: The designer could research the significance of colours and symbols across different cultures [1 mark], to ensure the footwear does not include any imagery or colours that could cause offence to people of particular faiths or beliefs [1 mark].
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