Very few consumer products enter the full-blown production stage without undergoing a strict assessment. This program shows viewers the ins and outs of that vital phase in product creation. Beginning with important design concepts, the program lays out basic aesthetic principles and how they are utilized to enhance an item's appeal. Functional efficiency and its incorporation into design are explored, followed by the environmental impact of manufacturing and disposal. Finally, planned obsolescence is illustrated by showing how manufacturers carefully balance quality and durability against a limited useful life of the product.

Encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on June 03, 2009. Learn360 is distributed by Infobase for Films for the Humanities & Sciences, Cambridge Educational, Meridian Education, and Shopware.

Product Evaluation: Aesthetics (3:46) -- Aesthetics and the Senses (2:49) -- Product Evaluation: Functionality (3:12) -- Product Evaluation: Product Qualities (3:37) -- Product Safety Codes (1:04) -- Products: Environmental Impact (4:08) -- Product Obsolescence (5:02).