By the end of this topic, you should be able to...
analyse a product using a SWOT analysis based on function, performance, usability, features and materials.
Guiding Question
How does product analysis and evaluation inform various stakeholders and aid in a product’s future development?
💡 Did You Know? In 2007, Nokia executives conducted a SWOT analysis on their industry-leading phones and concluded their strengths (physical keyboards, week-long battery life) were unbeatable—completely missing the threat that touchscreens would make keyboards obsolete within three years.
Why a SWOT Analysis?
SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) forces designers to evaluate products from four critical angles simultaneously.
Strengths identify what's working—features users love, superior performance metrics, durable materials, intuitive usability.
Weaknesses expose failures—functions that underperform, poor ergonomics, material degradation, confusing interfaces.
Opportunities reveal untapped potential—emerging technologies, underserved user groups, sustainability improvements, feature gaps competitors haven't filled.
Threats surface external risks—cheaper alternatives, changing regulations, material shortages, shifting user preferences.
What makes SWOT powerful for product analysis isn't just listing facts—it's the strategic insight that emerges when you cross-reference: "Our strength in aluminum construction (lightweight) creates an opportunity for elderly users (easier handling) but faces threats from cheaper polymer alternatives and weaknesses in corrosion resistance." This matrix thinking transforms isolated observations into actionable design intelligence that guides improvement priorities and innovation directions.
Case in Point
When analyzing traditional water bottles, designers identified: Strengths—stainless steel durability, thermal insulation; Weaknesses—heavy weight (500g), high cost ($40), cold-to-touch in winter; Opportunities—integrate filtration, add collapsibility for travel, use recycled materials; Threats—$5 disposable alternatives, health concerns about metal leaching, competition from glass/polymer hybrids. This SWOT matrix directly informed designs like Hydro Flask (addressed weight/cost) and LifeStraw bottles (seized filtration opportunity), proving SWOT isn't academic busywork—it's competitive intelligence that prevents designers from solving the wrong problems.
Learning Goals
In this topic, you'll learn to conduct rigorous SWOT analyses on existing products—evaluating function, performance, usability, features, and materials systematically—developing the analytical framework to identify genuine design opportunities worth pursuing in your IA project.
Linking Questions
Which aspects of ergonomics are vital to establish when analysing the usability of products? (A1.1)
To what extent does the evaluation of products rely on user-centred research methods? (A2.1)
How does the product analysis and evaluation of products that include mechanical and/or electronic systems differ from products without those systems? (A3.3, A3.4, B3.3, B3.4)
Why is it important to know which manufacturing techniques were used to make a product when conducting product analysis and evaluation? (A4.1)
To what extent is product analysis a fundamental aspect of the design process? (B2.1)
To what extent does material selection have an impact on the success of a product? (B3.1)
What types of information can designers gain from product analysis and evaluation in relation to production systems? (B4.1)
Why is it the responsibility of the designer to learn from product analysis and evaluation tasks when redesigning products? (C1.1)
What is the relationship between life-cycle analysis and product analysis? (C3.2)